Preserving agrobiodiversity: socio-cultural and economic drivers of landrace conservation in Odisha, India

Le résumé fourni par la source

Introduction Paddy landraces play a vital role in sustaining agrobiodiversity, climate resilience, and the socio-cultural heritage of farming communities. Odisha is recognized as one of India’s richest regions for traditional rice diversity, with the highest registration of landraces and farmer varieties. Understanding their conservation status and socio-economic importance is essential for designing strategies that strengthen both livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. Methods The study was conducted in Odisha state of India. Odisha ranks first in maximum registration of landraces and farmer varieties. Two regions, western and eastern, were selected, with five villages randomly chosen from each region. For focus group discussions and four-square analysis, 15 custodian farmers were selected from each village, totalling 150 in Odisha. The study evaluates the conservation status and socio-economic significance of paddy landraces across Western and Eastern Odisha using a multi-criteria sampling approach. Four-Square Analysis, Focus Group Discussions, and a Value-Added Quantitative Score (AddValQS) were employed to assess biodiversity patterns and economic significance. Results The research identifies distinct regional biodiversity patterns: Western Odisha maintains a diverse array of specialized varieties (e.g., Kalabati, Kusumkali) valued for medicinal and physiological traits, while Eastern Odisha shows stronger market integration with high-demand varieties like Kalajeera and Haldichudi. Findings reveal that nearly half of the custodian farmers in both regions achieve high economic significance, though Eastern Odisha exhibits a more robust medium-to-high economic profile (94.67%) compared to the West. Multivariate analysis highlights that cultural significance and ease of harvesting are universal drivers for conservation, while Eastern Odisha farmers leverage GI recognition and retail market sales more effectively. Discussion Conversely, many Western Odisha landraces remain “rare” or “isolated,” primarily conserved for home consumption and specific ritualistic uses, signalling a need for targeted policy interventions to prevent the risk of farm loss in these niches. Strengthening market linkages, value addition, and institutional support could enhance both conservation outcomes and farmers’ livelihoods while safeguarding traditional rice biodiversity.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.