Agricultural biodiversity is critical to the issue of biodiversity, especially in the present context of globalisation of agriculture that intends to promote genetically modified monocropping as a strategy to enhance productivity in agriculture. The green revolution model of agriculture which started in the 1960s focused on high response varieties of seeds, high external inputs and chemicalisation of agriculture; this resulted in monocrops, destroying the biodiversity in agriculture in the irrigated tracts (Shiva, 1992; Kothari, 1997). However, some pockets of rainfed agriculture, which have not been targeted by this model of agriculture, have still sustained their biodiversity (Pionetti and Reddy, 2002). It is in this context that the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan initiated a study on agro-biodiversity in the Zaheerabad region of Deccan area. The present paper discusses the current status of agro-biodiversity, threats to agro-biodiversity, existing gap and major strategies to fill gaps and measures to be taken for enhancing agro-biodiversity.
Sustenance and Enhancement of Agro-Biodiversity
by B Suresh Reddy, Social Action, 01 January, 2009