Rural and tribal women in agrobiodiversity conservation: an Indian case study

This publication examines the role of rural and tribal women as custodians of food plant genetic resources in three ecologically distinct and fragile regions in India. The growing awareness of the threat to food security from agrobiodiversity erosion has led to increased international recognition of the vital role of rural and indigenous people, especially women, in the conservation of food plant genetic resources. The study, conducted jointly with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation based in Chennai, India, is an attempt to understand gender differential roles, responsibilities, access and control over the resources of rural and tribal women in agrobiodiversity for better designing of plant genetic resource conservation programmes through local stewardship. It documents and analyses the advantages of the various practices used by women farmers who cultivate traditional paddy varieties and minor millets.