WHAT IS INDIGENOUS VARIETY ?
What is indigenous seed variety for a farmer or from the agricultural point of view? Does it mean that the variety is from the same country? From the same region he belongs to? From the same village he is from?
Most people interpret and understand it as a variety from his own country. The perception that an indigenous variety is a variety from within the geographical, political, legal, administrative or emotional boundary is highly misplaced. Because, the most crucial issue of a variety is its adaptability to a given climate, soil and farming practices. Any crop variety adaptable to a given condition can be called indigenous variety. But, testing a variety for its adaptability and introducing to categorize it as indigenous will be misplaced again because it is evolved in similar conditions over a number of years.
When a farmer, scientist or policy maker looks for adaptability issue, he should trace the evolutionary conditions of a variety. Climatic (rainfall, temperature, humidity), soil and farming practice factors need to be traced. We should also have a fair idea about the prevailing conditions where a particular variety is intended to be introduced. The varieties of similar conditions (if not identical) can be exchanged and introduced between the regions or locations. Such a variety truly fits into the indigenous category for all practical purposes of farming.
Participatory approach
We need to adopt participatory approach in selecting a variety for cultivation. Collection of agro-climatic information through the farmers’ participation is more practical. Information on areas of a variety need to be collected by interacting with the local farmers. Seasonal information is also very crucial as to understand the adaptability of a variety. So also is the growing season of the interested crop species. Collection of similar information on the areas of the variety’s introduction should be done to decide on the release for cultivation. When the conditions of both the regions match or at least nearer, the variety can be considered suitable for cultivation. Season of growing can be decided from the collected information.
What is indigenous seed variety for a farmer or from the agricultural point of view? Does it mean that the variety is from the same country? From the same region he belongs to? From the same village he is from?
Most people interpret and understand it as a variety from his own country. The perception that an indigenous variety is a variety from within the geographical, political, legal, administrative or emotional boundary is highly misplaced. Because, the most crucial issue of a variety is its adaptability to a given climate, soil and farming practices. Any crop variety adaptable to a given condition can be called indigenous variety. But, testing a variety for its adaptability and introducing to categorize it as indigenous will be misplaced again because it is evolved in similar conditions over a number of years.
When a farmer, scientist or policy maker looks for adaptability issue, he should trace the evolutionary conditions of a variety. Climatic (rainfall, temperature, humidity), soil and farming practice factors need to be traced. We should also have a fair idea about the prevailing conditions where a particular variety is intended to be introduced. The varieties of similar conditions (if not identical) can be exchanged and introduced between the regions or locations. Such a variety truly fits into the indigenous category for all practical purposes of farming.
Participatory approach
We need to adopt participatory approach in selecting a variety for cultivation. Collection of agro-climatic information through the farmers’ participation is more practical. Information on areas of a variety need to be collected by interacting with the local farmers. Seasonal information is also very crucial as to understand the adaptability of a variety. So also is the growing season of the interested crop species. Collection of similar information on the areas of the variety’s introduction should be done to decide on the release for cultivation. When the conditions of both the regions match or at least nearer, the variety can be considered suitable for cultivation. Season of growing can be decided from the collected information.
1 comment:
Indigenous,as the name goes is indigenous for that agro climatic conditions, which again is dependant upon various factors including the geographical location. A new species can become indigenous only when it stands adapted and yeilds in comparison to its original tribe over a time period.
Even the released hybrids can be classified once they are adapted and accepted by the growers if it delivers the desired yeild parameters / traits by the farmers. The process of adaptation or "indigenization" to a given climate requires at least a few modifications within the gene pools of a variety. In that contexts, it becomes a seperate variety compared to its ancestors. Thus it can be called "indigenous"
Post a Comment