Status of agriculture genetic resource of Pokhara-19, Kaski

 Brief glance in diversity of the country:

Nepal is richly endowed with numerous agricultural crops and plants. The variation in temporal, altitudinal, topographical and aspects has made agricultural such biodiversity possible. Hence, Nepal is a safe heaven on earth for many plant and crop species even in the events of disasters of global warming in this planet. The nation is endowed with rich diversity in cereals, grain legumes, vegetables, fruits etc. Crop species in Nepal are diverse due to the presence of about 120 wild relatives of commonly cultivated food plants, as well as their proximity to cultivated areas, where 60 food species (fruit, vegetables, legumes) and 54 wild relatives of food plants have been identified. Cereals, grain legumes, vegetables, fruits, and other crops abound in the country.

In the Himalayan Kingdom, there are at least four species of wild rice (O. nivara, O. rufipogon, O. granulata, and O. officenalis), two wild relatives (Hygroryza aristata and leersia hexandra), and several types of weedy rice (O. sativa f. spontanea). Wheat wild relatives can be found in the hilly and mountainous areas. Wheat may have higher genetic variability due to its proximity to a secondary source of origin. Traditional/obsolete wheat varieties have a high tillering attribute and a longer dormancy period, according to studies. In the same way, maize has a lot of variety. It could be attributed to the high level of specific adaptation of crops in the hills and mountains. Increased human population pressure, poverty, land degradation, environmental change, the introduction of modern cultivars, and national policy, on the other hand, have all contributed to the eroding of crop genetic resources in Nepal.

 

Brief introduction of Pokhara-19.

Pokhara is a metropolitan city in Nepal, which serves as the capital of Gandaki Province. It is the country's largest metropolitan city in terms of area and second-largest in terms of population. The city also serves as the headquarters of Kaski District. There are total 33 wards in Pokhara metropolitan city. Pokhara-19 is one of the wards whose administrative office is located in Lamachaur.

Agricultural genetic resources diversity in Pokhara-19:

Agricultural biodiversity in farming systems delivers food and nutrition, fiber, fuel, and services that contribute to people’s livelihoods. Apart from health and well-being it also helps to conserve habitats. It is the fruit of thousands of years of observations, selection, exchange and breeding. The value of biodiversity is apparent in agriculture at all levels, both for meeting short-term needs and achieving long-term sustainability.

There are many site specific landraces of crops, forages, livestock, insect and microorganisms. But there is very limited information on diversity below species levels in all components of agrobiodiversity.

 

Status of rice landraces:

Rice is grown as staple and cash crop in this area. The study area includes irrigated, water-logged marshy land, partially imgated/rainfed, and upland environments. Furthermore, the source of irrigation water used in the area varies. Both of these factors contribute to the landrace diversity of the area. In the Pokhara Valley and so in Pokhara-19, genetic erosion of low yielding but high quality scented rice is already taking place.

Table 1: Status of rice landraces in Pokhara-19

The diversity of Landraces is decreasing due to introduction of high yielding varieties, changing in landscape, low grain yields, lodging problem in landraces, economically less profitable, low yield potential and less responsive to chemical fertilizer.

Table 2: Different landraces of rice and reasons for their replacement 

Diversity of minor crops:

Minor crops and underutilized species are also grown over this area. Diversity exists in variety and species levels. Covered and naked barley are commonly available and used for diverse purpose including religion use of the train by rural and urban community. Diversity in buckwheat (Fagopyrum sp.) and finger millet (Eleusine sp.) in wild and cultivated form can be found.

 Varietal diversity of vegetables:

Sponge gourd, snake gourd, snake gourd, pumpkin, bean, cowpea and common bean are important traditional vegetable crops. More diversity of vegetable landraces are observed in summer as compared to winter season. High varietal diversity is observed in bitter gourd. Sponge gourd, snake gourd, bean and pumpkin also have considerable diversity.

Common landraces available in these areas include:

•  Seto chhoto (short white), Hariyo chhoto (short green), Hariyo lamo (long green), Seto laamo (long white) of snake gourd
• Madhyam seto (medium white), Lamo hariyo (long green), Seto chhoto (short white), Lamo seto (long white), Chhoto hariyo (short green) of bitter gourd.
• Hariyo lamo (green long), Hariyo chhoto (green short), Basaune, Seto basaune of sponge gourd.

 

Fig: Diversity among different landraces of sponge gourd

 

Community based (seed) production:

In order to share benefits of JB landrace development with large number of farmers, community based seed production (CBSP) is done for Jethobudho landraces. It aims to strengthen healthy seed system adapted to ensure the sustained supply of seed of enhanced landraces to the farming communities.

In the same way, community based production of Naked Barley (Uwa) is widely practiced in this area and is an important winter cash crop.

 

 Farmer’s knowledge on existing diversity of the area:

Knowledge base of farmers towards available genetic diversity vary from person to person and area to area. Farmers at all sites are well aware about the existence of diversity. But farmer’s knowledge on present use of such diversity and their future potential is poor. At many sites, farmers have a fair amount of knowledge on dynamics of varietal replacement process which is reflected by the fact that farmers could name and count several landraces, which have disappeared over time from the locality. In certain instances, they could also point out possible causes for such a change.

 

Undergoing conservation practices:

Mainly in-situ and on-farm conservation practices are observed in this area. Ex-situ conservation is not much prominent in study area.

The participatory landrace enhancement programme of Jethobudho (JB) population from Pokhara Valley along with the ones in this area has demonstrated the value of on-farm conservation of traditional variety. Farming in these areas is both commercialized and subsistent in nature. Farmers primarily produce food crops including vegetables for home consumption. In a typical homestead of this area, home gardening is an integral part. Home gardens as an ecosystem contain multiple levels of diversity, including cultural, genetic and agronomic diversity. The crop varieties found in home gardens are often unique and have been passed from generation to generation, neighbour to neighbour, undergoing human selection and natural drift on their journey through time and has played a vital role in conserving and maintaining agricultural genetic resources diversity.

Fig: Home garden

Suggestions for future work:

Indigenous and traditional agricultural communities act as the sole managers and custodians of local crop varieties and utilize their knowledge to maintain and manage diverse agricultural production system. They have been accumulating knowledge about the agricultural practices through implementing wide range of indigenous and traditional practices based on generations of experience, informal experiments and intimate understanding of their environments. These traditional knowledge and practices include numerous adaptations strategies at local context and also transmission of knowledge and practices to younger generations. 

However, the valuable knowledge gathered and practiced by farmers over generations is often neglected by researchers, although the information is quite essential for location specific recommendations and for developing sustainable farming systems. Furthermore, lack of proper documentation of the traditional knowledge and practices, a number of crop varieties are eroding from the areas without proper knowledge of farmers about varieties and their cultivation. Mainly because of neglected and underutilization of agriculture genetic resources, existing diversity has been lost. Conservation work, therefore, should get priority. To promote and conserve these resources, a strong and wider network is required among concerned authorities and institutions at local, regional, national and international level.

 
BSc. Ag 7th semester
Anupa Adhikari
Roll number: 03