II Steering Committee Meeting Bioversity International New Delhi

1. Reinforcing the Resilience of Poor Rural Communities in the face of Food Insecurity, Poverty and Climate Change through On-Farm Conservation of Local Agro-Biodiversity • Dr. E. D. Israel Oliver King • Principal Scientist (Biodiversity) • M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, India II Steering Committee Meeting Bioversity International New Delhi

2. Sites,People,Diversity and Partners

3. Facilitate more effective and sustainable use, management and conservation of local agro biodiversity by communities and stakeholders, particularly in the context of food security, nutrition, income-generation potential and adaptation to climate change. • Promote a more balanced complementary conservation agenda in national programmes, based on the need to combat genetic erosion and to meet the needs of agro biodiversity users • Provide useful findings to guide further research related to climate change and its impact on species and varieties deployed in local production systems. • Develop and test new methods and tools in close partnership with farmers and value chain actors aimed at enhancing their capacities to sustainable conserve traditional crops and associated knowledge at the farm level. • Explore ways of integrating the monitoring of diversity on-farm, along with use enhancement goals, through inter –disciplinary and multi –sector approaches.

4. Key Activities Feb 2012-July 2013 • Activity 1.1: International conference • Activity 2.1: National Stakeholder meetings • Activity 3.1:Training of partners • Activity 3.2:Training of community members • Activity 3.3 Surveying/documentation of GD, IK, conservation efforts and threats • Activity 3.4 Establishment of on-farm network of custodian farmers in target areas • Activity 3.5 Establishment of linkages with ex situ conservation • Activity 3.6 Development of documentation system in support of on farm monitoring systems • Activity 3.7 Development of Red Lists for model species • Activity 3.8 Carrying out use-enhancement actions for target species • Activity 3.9 Testing out feasibility of PACS (payment for agrobiodiversity conservation services) • Activity 4.1 Development of an impact assessment study for the project • Activity 4.2 Analyses of gathered data related to the sustainability of monitoring systems and impact of use-enhancement on conservation of local crops • Activity 5.1 Raising awareness on the importance of on farm conservation and its strategic complementary role with ex situ conservation • Activity 5.3 Explore policy options for supporting community based monitoring systems

5. Crop genetic diversity • Indigenous Knowledge on Cropping System • Threat and conservation status of Crop diversity • Gender role in crop management • Influence of externalities on NUS crop systems • Climate perception and Endogenous methods for Resilience • Custodian Farmers and Role in On farm conservation • Current Practices and support

6. Progress - ASA • Baseline survey of all targeted 500 farmers completed and Computerised • Four Cell Analysis exercise done in all project villages to map the existed crop/ varietal biodiversity and listing of red zone varieties • Organized 24 Demonstration on Good Agriculture Practices with 24 farmers (min. 4/village) by following the principles of Systems of Crop Intensification like Line sowing, Optimum Seed rate, use of pure & quality seeds, Seed Treatment, & mechanical weeding etc. Farmers at village Hardua of District Mandla M.P

7. Gene Campaign Survey :Perceptions of Changing Weather Patterns on Cropping Decisions and Food Security • Effects of Perceived Changes in Weather Patterns • Himalayan farmers are noticing higher temperatures with late and reduced monsoon rainfall • Respondents believed adverse weather to be the most pressing factor in declining crop cultivation. May-August, 2012, Ramgarh and Dhari Blocks of Nainital District Respondents: 157 men and 150 women of 29 different villages Crops and Sensitivity to Changing Weather Patterns • Farmers believe that local grain species, especially finger millet and barley, to be the most resilient against observed changes in weather but they are also less and less likely to grow these grains • Farmers are more inclined towards growing vegetables and fruits, which generate income but which suffer the most from observed warmer weather and reduced rainfall. • Measures Taken in Response to Changes in Weather Patterns : • In response to the changes in the weather • planting new crops altogether • planting trees • changing their cropping system • shifting planting times • increasing the frequency of seed exchange with other farmers • planting faster maturing varieties of existing crops

8. Crops and nutrition • The farmers believe that because of changing weather pattern the nutrition and the sustainability of their agricultural livelihoods rely on cultivating more grains, such as finger millet, barley, maize, barnyard millet, and foxtail millet. • Despite the expressed benefits of nutrition and sustainability in grain cultivation, surveyed farmers find that their decisions of what to grow are primarily determined by profitability. • The production of wheat (73%), potato (49%), finger millet (33%), peas (25%), maize (23%), and cabbage (20%) has declined the most in the area. These are the most commonly grown vegetables and grains for household consumption; their decline suggests that household food security is growing less dependent on household food production. • Impacts of Changing Weather Patterns on Workloads and Natural Resources • The great majority of respondents have described decreases in availability of fuel wood (83%), grass for fodder (87%), pasture land (89%), and spring water (74%). • The workload of farmers both men and women have increased considerably. Men are taking additional jobs as paid labors and women are spending more time on agricultural cultivation

9. Criteria set by tribal farmers in KH • Continuity in cultivation of millets for last five years • Maintain diversity at home and on farm • Continue to Innovate, improve and use and enhance materials • Willingness to share knowledge and materials • Maintain locally threatened varieties

10. CUSTODIAN FARMER PROFILE Village Name: Thiruppuli oorpuram Farmer Name: Ms. Chinnakkal , Age: 55 No. of Family Member: 4 Occupation: (a) Primary: farmer (b) Secondary: labour Type of cultivation: mixed crop, mono crop Method of sowing: Line sowing and Broadcasting Type of millet crop: finger millet and little millet Variety of millet crops and Traits : perunkelvaragu, sataikelvaragu, surataikelvaragu, sundangikelvaragu, thirikulasami, maliyasamai, katavetisamai. Type of storage system use: Mann pannai Mode of consumption: kaali, roti, soru Need : Improved seed supply for little millet and Italian millet Little millet processing mill

11. CUSTODIAN FARMER PROFILE • Village Name: Padosolai, Farmer Name: Mrs. Malliga • Age:33 No. of Family Member:5, • Occupation: (a) Primary: farmer ,(b) Secondary: labour Perunsamai Perunthinai

12. Mr. Theveli, 60 Mr. Murugesan, 36 Ms. Valarmathi, 37 Ms. Sumathi, 34 Ms. Palannimal, 45 Mr. Manikam, 50 Karuman, 55 Mr. Annadhurai, 42 Mrs. Rajammal, 36 Ms. Chinnakkal,55 Mr. subaramani, 46 Mr. chinnammal, 43 Mr. ayyasamy, 49 Mr. selva kumar, 36 Ms. Maniyammai, 48

13. Mr. Natesan, 44 Mrs. Maliga, 33 Mr. Rankasamy , 52 Mrs. Ponnamal, 46 Mrs .Ponnamal , 55 : Mrs.Vashanthamani , 34 Mrs. Pakkiyam, 29 Mrs. Thangamal, 48 Mr. Ayyasamy, 55 Mrs.Muththammal, 52 Mrs .Lashmi, 37 Mrs. Maliha , 37 Mr. Sivaji, 44 Mrs.Selvam, 43 Mr. Thathairaju, 45

14. MSSRF: Custodian Farmer from Kolli Hills A women custodian farmer, Ms.Kodukka Malliga Seerangan from Kolli Hills, she attended in the National level custodian farmer meeting organized by Bioversity International at New Delhi on February 11-12, 2013.

15. Cell A Large Area Many HH Cell B Small Area Many HH Cell C Large Area Few HH Cell D Small Area Few HH Locally Lost Varieties

16. Cell A : Large Area-Many House Holds • Yield Enhancement experiments • Market Opportunities • Entrepreneurship Development

17. Cell B: Small Area-Many House Holds • Cultural and Culinary Preferences • Adaptation traits suiting to mixed cropping

18. Cell C : Large Area-Few House Holds Key Drivers – Market opportunities, Culinary preferences

19. Cell D: Small Area - Few House Holds • Cultural and Culinary Preferences • Adaptation traits suiting to mixed cropping

20. Cell E: Locally Lost varieties • Access to Improved Varieties in finger Millets • Inaccessibility to dehulling machines for little millet and Italian Millets • Farmers adoption of diversified farming (Agro forestry, Plantations cropping Systems

21. Collection of diversity by Gene Campaign indicative of losses - 2006-07 to 2012-13

22. Establishment of community Seed Bank with local and improved Varieties • Farmer participatory research in identifying high yielding varieties through PVS • Yield Enhancement Demonstrations for increasing productivity with profitability • Promotion of intercrops for better nutrition • Reduction of drudgery of women in crop production - row maker, cono weeder, inter cultivation and modified spade • Training and capacity building of farm women & men

23. Farmer participatory research in identifying high yielding varieties • Limited access to improved varieties • Limited Knowledge on Varietal Selection • Capacity building on Varietal selection based on different parameters • Option for more improved and local varieties suitable to agroecology

24. Varieties Selected by farmers in Kolli Hills Community Seed Bank • GPU 28 – 110 -120 days crops, Large Panicle, sturdy plant • GPU 67 – 120 Days, Fully filled healthy panicles • MR 6 – 140-150 days, large panicle, Tall and sturdy plants

25. Yield Enhancement Demonstrations in millets (2012)

26. Yield and income of Pure crop of Improved Practices Vs. Farmers’ Practices in Kolli Hills 2011 and 2012 (yield in quintal/Hectare) 25.87 % of net income increased 20 % of yield increased

27. Yield and income of Inter crop of Improved Practices Vs. Farmers’ Practices in Kolli Hills 2012 (yield in quintal /Hectare) 35.73 % of net income increased

28. Cost Benefit –Mono crop and inter crop with Tapioca in Kolli Hills Amount in Rs. • Income increase from 5% to 10 % through Inter cropping with tapioca when compared to pure cropping • In addition farmers are getting cash crop as well as food crop

29. Progress -ASA • Conducted 10 mother & 60 baby trials on Kodo and 8 mothers & 48 baby trials on indigenous pea to provide basket of varietal choice to the farmers • 2 ToTs on PoPs conducted to VRPs • 15 Trainings conducted for farmers on GAP of Kodo, Kutki & Desi Pea • For addressing the issue of availability of quality Seeds at farmers level, seeds production of 1000 Qtl (90 Qtl foundation seeds distributed in convergence with Govt Schemes) • Outreach of project has been extended from 500 with 700 farmers • 1 Farmers convention and 1 symposium were organized on promotion of small millets • Preparation of Community Managed biodiversity register in process

31. 27 Women and 71 men farmers, government line department offices, scientist from MSSRF participated in the program on creating awareness and building capacity on legislation of PPVFR act 2001 at Nala Hotel, Namakkal on 19th March 2013

32. Formation of Block level Biodiversity Management Committee

33. Millet Food Exhibition and Millet Food Mela • Revival on home cookery traditions and on farm conservation • 21 – Improved recipes, 11 Traditional recipes served • 30 Women and men cooks recognized • Over 400 community members shared and eaten millet based foods • Dr. Stefano Padulosi, Bioversity international, Rome and Dr. Rima Alcadi, IFAD, Rome attended

34. Efforts for popularization of traditional recipes & knowledge of small millet. Through organizing an exhibition Seed Fair for promotion & Popularization of Small Millets at Singarpur village, dated 20.11.2012

35. Points for Discussion • Custodian farmer network: Knowledge and Material sharing - Mechanism for recognizing them • Threat Assessment: Local name and scientific identity of local crops -5 Cell Analysis – Threat - Geographical Boundaries • Use enhancement: Crop Improvement, Processing, Marketing and On farm Crop Diversity maintenance challenge • Documentation: BD Act - PBR – Crop Diversity and Indigenous Knowledge and Legal provisions • Recognizing contributions : • PPVFRA - Plant Genome Savior Award - NUS – Millets – DUS characterization • Incentive mechanism/Payment for conservation of locally threatened Sp, LRs • Local infrastructures – seeds storage, Mechanized processing, Traits Assessment • and insurance • Institutional support Knowledge and material sharing, revival of germplasm of exsitu • Use enhancement Local PVS, Quality seed production, contribution in the PBRs, Threat assessment, Varietal registration