Celebrating International Day for Biological Diversity

Convention on biological diversity(CBD) created in 1992, is one of the most broadly subscribed international environmental treaty that encompasses three complementary objectives: i) Conservation of biodiversity ii) Sustainable use of its component iii) Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. International day for biological diversity (IBD) has been celebrated every May 22 for celebration of that achievement. This year this day is celebrated as 25^th anniversary of CBD coming into force with the theme ‘Celebrating 25 years of Action for Biodiversity’. Nepal, since 1992 as a party to the CBD, have been taking full advantage of CBD provisions for generating financial resources for effective implementation of the CBD. Article 20 of CBD gives special consideration to developing countries in funding the implementation of CBD which account for economic and social development. 

Biodiversity deals with the degree of nature’s variety in the biosphere. Biodiversity is central to sustainable development. Since, biodiversity conserve ecosystem structure and stability of species diversity, contribute to sustainable intensification, diversify products and income opportunities, increase productivity and food security, interrelated global issues such as poverty, hunger, environmental degradation are reduced by biodiversity. In this article I would like to discuss agricultural biodiversity role in the sustainable development and ways to protect and add its value with reference to my research on rice in Sundar bazar, Lamjung.

Nepal is a country rich in beauty and culture. From its altitudinal variation (60m-8848m) to diverse climatic conditions, Nepal is endowed with a wide range of floral and faunal diversity. Nepal’s contribution to global diversity. Nepal’s contribution to global diversity by birds 9.3%, reptiles 1.6%, butterflies 2.6%, fishes 2.2%, flowering plants 2.6%, mammals 4.6%. Agriculture contributes to approximately 34% to GDP and livelihood for 68% of Nepal’s population. Agrobiodiversity is foundation of Agriculture. Agrobiodiversity can make farming systems more stable, robust, and sustainable, contribute to sound pest and disease management, conserve soil and increase natural soil fertility and health, help maximize effective use of resources and environment, reduces dependency on external inputs, improve human nutrition and provide sources of medicines and vitamins etc. Also, agrobiodiversity helps in tourism, recreational, scientific and educational. So, the biodiversity and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin.

Pic 1: Seed bed preparation

Photo Credit: Sujan Gyawali

Agriculture in Nepal has long been based on subsistence farming, particularly in the hilly region where peasants derive their living from fragmented plots of land cultivated in difficult conditions. Population increases and environmental degradation have ensured the minimal gains in agricultural production. Agrobiodiversity loss is due to rapid expansion of industrial, green revolution agriculture, globalization, replacement of local varieties, destruction of habitats. So, many strategies and initiatives need to be addressed.

As a Community based Biodiversity Management (CBM) practice, I had done a research on rice for investigating the value addition possibilities through breeding on agrobiodiversity. The study was carried out on Sundar bazar municipality of Lamjung district during June to October 2017. A total of seven promising lines from NARC were evaluated together with a local check variety (Biji) which were replicated 3 times. Experiments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design. This research was performed to check the relevancy of Local check variety to disease, insect, yield, fertilizer needs, lodging, shattering loss, drought tolerance with other genotypes under study.

Pic 2: Weeding in research field

Photo Credit: Sujan Gyawali

In this study, straw yield, grain yield and spikelet fertility are highly heritable traits. This means these characters could be successfully transferred to offspring’s if their selection is performed in hybridization programme. Thus, these plant traits deserve greater attention in further breeding programme for developing high yielding rice in mid hill. Also, Local check variety- biji was found to be tolerant to insect, pest attacks, weed, shattering loss, lodging, drought tolerant in comparison to other genotypes. So, crop improvement programme from this local check could be carried out for better result.

This study has revealed that value addition of agrobiodiversity is possible through breeding in active participation of farmers at all stages of selection and evaluation. Besides this integrated local participation, institutional strengthen, coordination, and implementation of policies, securing IPR and FR could be better way for getting CBM.

Research and development in agrobiodiversity is needed for establishing a strong evidence base to show how agricultural biodiversity provides nutrition and related health benefits that in turn results in incentives for maintaining this diversity sustainability. Efforts can be concentrated in identifying new biodiversity based income options for rural and urban poor. There is need to explore the role of agrobiodiversity for sustainable agriculture, varietal selection and breeding methods preferred and practiced by farmers, exotic vs local varieties and farmer's varieties like Pokhreli Jetho Budho.