Conserving plant genetic resources at community level
A good part of villagers in Bangladesh invest considerable time and energy in subsidiary economic gardening. This is often in the form of a vegetable garden and tree orchard on whatever household land is available to them. In fact this has been the mainstay both for the basic nutrition balance and the homestead forestry contribution of which in the rural economy and its well-being is well recognised. However, the practitioners of such gardening usually follow traditional technologies, and the absence of better seeds has been one of their acute problems. The extent of support services for farmers during the last decade in Bangladesh has proved efficacious. But Bangladesh agriculture is losing yield at an alarming rate due to lack of agricultural inputs particularly quality seeds and other planting materials called Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) considered most potential for satisfactory production. Two farmer families live adjacent to one another. One has a good quality mango tree and the other a similar kind jackfruit tree. Both mutually exchange their variety and become owner of two good quality trees. This is an example, which can tremendously change our agriculture sector. For improvement of the agriculture sector, it is necessary to accumulate a huge number of treasured Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) scattered over the country and conserve these in a maximum convenient area that is “PGR conservation at community level”. It will be the extremely large source of available planting materials. Field conservation is a rational doing to improve and strengthen our national ability in PGR conservation and use, thereby contributing to food security and sustainable economic development now and for future generations. Whereas in Bangladesh, existing 'Gene Banks' are not enough for PGR conservation, as a result day after day we are losing our valuable fundamental PGR. Now it is time to give attention to PGR conservation widely. The Agricultural Extension Policy-1996, in its short and mid term objectives has stated to improve the quality and availability of planting materials and to reduce environmental degradation. The Agricultural Policy of Bangladesh also focused primarily on food security, self reliant economy, development of agro-based industries and value added products, crop diversification, export augmentation and employment generation. Community level PGR activities can contribute vitally to such government policies. Rainbow Nari o Shishu Kallayan Foundation conducted a study among 81.04% people of Iswarganj upazila of Mymensingh and critically observed that people of this locality need only quality planting materials, eco-friendly technologies, cost effective inputs and equipment, updated information and value added marketing chain. In fact these are potential for our agriculture sector as a basic economic source, for ensuring sustainable daily income of the common people. A master plan is required as a unique model for locating source of better seeds and planting materials having desired genetic quality, sustainable agricultural growth, improvement of declining bio-diversity within the local ecosystem, reducing environmental degradation as well as introducing eco-friendly technology at the very farmer level. Trained and motivated farmers, technical persons of GO's and NGO's, students, researchers all should be engaged from their own context to locate and collect PGR across the country. In this case participatory approach with local leader and experienced people may help properly. The contributions of farm families, communities and indigenous peoples are also critical to find out, conserve, use and enhance PGR activities and biological diversity. Technologies for identification of source of PGR and conservation method of seeds and other planting materials including field conservation technologies will be transferred through hands-on training and training on easy, cost-effective and successful technologies of reproduction system. The climate of this country is sub-tropical monsoon and the seasons are favourable for agriculture. So field conservation at community level can be suitable all over the country. A few partner organizations of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) are recently using in-house PGR conservation process for preserving seeds or other planting materials successfully. Now it is needed to expand to whole of the country. People want profit for improving livelihood. With the help of PGR activities the local people can earn extra money by selling their expertise, technologies, PGR products and finally yield. On the other hand, locality can be affluent with quality crops, fruits, vegetables as well as different kinds of consumable products. Social degradations like mixing low-quality products, stealing fruits, telling lie, giving under-weight products etc have been protected through marketing increased volume of produce. The common people will achieve expertise on plant breeding process and then on different technical endeavours likely sowing, planting, intercultural operations, harvesting, post harvesting activities, conservation of both PGR and consumable crops and finally marketing their products which will make them self-sufficient as well as self-reliant.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments