Vol. 9 No. 2
Conservation of agricultural biodiversity-An experience in the Chotonagpur plateau region
Author(s): S. ADHIKARY
Abstract: The Agricultural farm of Indian Statistical Institute, Giridih, Chotonagpur Plateau region, is well maintaining the biodiversity of crops and soils. The present paper discussed the experience, policies adopted for conservation of biodiversity and results. Findings show that due to less effect of Green Revolution and World Trade Organization as well as contract farming in Jharkhand, a sustainable biodiversity is maintained in comparison to that of developed states of India. Regeneration of vast gravel land into fertile land and now sustained vegetation achieved adopting 20 years back aforestation program. Collection and identification have been done for a good no. of varieties of several crops practiced in Jharkhand and maintaining them since long period. Some traditional upland rice cultivars were identified as drought tolerant through drought susceptibility index. 40 germplasms of horsegram were collected from different farmers\' age-old collections, tested the genetic variation at the seed storage protein level, grouped only into five broad groups. Under the rainfed farming system, cropping systems and cropping sequences had been developed to maintain crop biodiversity, land use and climatic ecosystems as well as production potential following traditional practices of this region. Numbers of wild species of the cultivated crops are found those could be used as genetic race in the breeding program.
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