Community Perspectives on the On-Farm Diversity of Six Major Cereals and Climate Change in Bhutan

Tirtha Bdr. Katwal, Singay Dorji, Rinchen Dorji, Lhab Tshering, Mahesh Ghimiray, Ganesh B. Chhetri, Tashi Yangzome Dorji and Asta Maya Tamang
Additional contact information
Tirtha Bdr. Katwal: Specialist III-Maize, RNR Research and Development Center, Yusipang, Department of Forest and Park Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, P.O. Box 212, Bhutan
Singay Dorji: National Coordinator, Global Environment Facility-Small Grants Programme, UNDP, Thimphu, P.O. Box 162, Bhutan
Rinchen Dorji: Biodiversity Officers, National Biodiversity Center, Serbithang, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Thimphu, P.O. Box 875, Bhutan
Lhab Tshering: Biodiversity Officers, National Biodiversity Center, Serbithang, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Thimphu, P.O. Box 875, Bhutan
Mahesh Ghimiray: Rice Specialist III, RNR Research and Development Center, Bajo, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Wangduephodrang, P.O. Box 1263, Bhutan
Ganesh B. Chhetri: Agriculture Specialist II, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Thimphu, P.O. Box 392, Bhutan
Tashi Yangzome Dorji: Program Director, National Biodiversity Center, Serbithang, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Thimphu, P.O. Box 875, Bhutan
Asta Maya Tamang: Principal Biodiversity Officer, National Biodiversity Center, Serbithang, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Thimphu, P.O. Box 875, Bhutan

Agriculture, 2015, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Subsistence Bhutanese farmers spread across different agro-ecological zones maintain large species and varietal diversity of different crops in their farm. However, no studies have been undertaken yet to assess why farmers conserve and maintain large agro-biodiversity, the extent of agro-ecological richness, species richness, estimated loss of traditional varieties and threats to the loss of on-farm agro-biodiversity. Information on the number of varieties cultivated by the farmers for six important staple crops were collected from nine districts and twenty sub-districts spread across six different agro-ecological zones of the country to understand farmers reasons for maintaining on-farm crop diversity, estimate agro-ecological richness, species richness and the overall loss of traditional varieties, to know the famers’ level of awareness on climate change and the different threats to crop diversity. The results from this study indicated that an overwhelming 93% of the respondents manage and use agro-biodiversity for household food security and livelihood. The average agro-ecological richness ranged from 1.17 to 2.26 while the average species richness ranged from 0.50 to 2.66. The average agro-ecological richness indicates a large agro-ecological heterogeneity in terms of the different species of staple crops cultivated. The average species richness on the other hand shows that agro-ecological heterogeneity determines the type and extent of the cultivation of the six different staple cereals under consideration. The overall loss of traditional varieties in a time period of 20 years stands at 28.57%. On climate change, 94% of the farmers recognize that local climate is changing while 86% responded that they are aware of the potential impacts of climate change on their livelihoods. Climate change and associated factors was considered the most imminent threat to the management and loss of on-farm agro-biodiversity. The results from this study indicate that on-farm agro-biodiversity conservation, development and utilization programs have to be more specific to the different agro-ecological zones considering the agro-ecological heterogeneity. Attention has to be given to individual crops that have low average species richness and high percentage of loss of traditional varieties. The impact of climate change could offset the traditional seed system which primarily supports the persistence of on-farm agro-biodiversity in several ways.

Keywords: agro-biodiversity; climate change; subsistence farming; average agro-ecological richness; average species richness; threats; traditional seed system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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