On Farm Conservation

Conservation of indigenous tree species is crucial for restoration of ecosystems and provision of livelihood support functions among rural communities. However, most tree planting initiatives have promoted exotic species, ignoring native species which populations have for long depended on. This study assessed the indigenous tree species conservation and Use Values in the Kyoga plains and the highland ranges Agro Ecological Zones of Uganda. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to capture primary data from a total of 422 household heads. Data were coded and entered in SPSS statistical package (Version 16). Descriptive statistics were generated to establish the distribution of indigenous trees on farms and tree management options employed by farmers. Chi-square test at 5% probability level was used to assess whether there were any difference in indigenous tree establishment, propagation and management options in the four study districts. The Use Value index technique was used to rank and prioritize 20 indigenous tree species. Most of the local communities in Eastern highland ranges prefer planting and retaining indigenous tree species in crop fields, while deliberate tree planting in the vicinity of family compounds (homestead) was predominant in the Kyoga plains. Indigenous tree species mode of establishment, propagation and management options significantly differed across the four study sites (P<0.05). The overall tree species Use Value Indices generally correspond to the number of uses of a particular tree species and vary between 2.4 and 0.2. Our study findings show rather a narrow range between the highest and least use value, implying that communities generally valued a particular tree species for at least more than one preferred use. Local communities prefer protecting naturally growing indigenous tree seedlings than planting. They facilitate tree regeneration when the benefits of their investment are guaranteed and the economic value such trees can provide to the household. Therefore, while evaluating
indigenous tree species for relative importance and use, the end objectives of such evaluation must be critically examined in
the light of the interest of the different tree resource user groups.

This publication is the result of a research collaboration between Bioversity International and the Fundación para la Promoción e Investigación de Productos Andinos (PROINPA). It deals with issues regarding on-farm conservation of agrobiodiversity, which is a poorly addressed field of research in spite of its pivotal role in the maintenance of global crop diversity. Strategic actors in on-farm conservation are those farmers who, for various reasons, distinguish themselves from others by their contribution to conserving crop diversity. We call them ‘custodian famers’, even though the terminology may not be suitable to all social contexts. Understanding who these custodian farmers are, their presence over the territory, the types of crops they maintain, why and how, as well as gaining insights on the cultural, social and economic drivers behind their efforts is, for scientists, a very important step in devising effective on-farm conservation strategies and this booklet is a contribution in that direction. The open-ended interviews and participant observation methodologies provided in this study are helpful in guiding future methodological approaches and advancing our understanding of how the roles of custodian farmers can be better recognized, harnessed and supported by society. This work has been carried out in the framework of a major global UN Project supported by IFAD and the European Commission, which is focusing on the development of innovative participatory approaches for the conservation of neglected and underutilized species (NUS) on farm.

This publication is the result of a research collaboration between Bioversity International and the Fundación para la Promoción e Investigación de Productos Andinos (PROINPA). It deals with issues regarding on-farm conservation of agrobiodiversity, which is a poorly addressed field of research in spite of its pivotal role in the maintenance of global crop diversity. Strategic actors in on-farm conservation are those farmers who, for various reasons, distinguish themselves from others by their contribution to conserving crop diversity. We call them ‘custodian famers’, even though the terminology may not be suitable to all social contexts. Understanding who these custodian farmers are, their presence over the territory, the types of crops they maintain, why and how, as well as gaining insights on the cultural, social and economic drivers behind their efforts is, for scientists, a very important step in devising effective on-farm conservation strategies and this booklet is a contribution in that direction. The open-ended interviews and participant observation methodologies provided in this study are helpful in guiding future methodological approaches and advancing our understanding of how the roles of custodian farmers can be better recognized, harnessed and supported by society. This work has been carried out in the framework of a major global UN Project supported by IFAD and the European Commission, which is focusing on the development of innovative participatory approaches for the conservation of neglected and underutilized species (NUS) on farm.

Maintaining on-farm diversity of crop varieties has received increasing attention as a strategy for mitigating production risk and protecting food security in resource-poor farming systems with few opportunities for insurance or trade. Barley is grown under a wide range of environmental conditions and in marginal areas or seasons where the production of other cereals is limited. Food consumption preferences and variable tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses influence the mixture and number of varieties to be grown. Phenotypic diversity was determined using Shannon diversity index. An econometric approach has been applied to identify the social and economic factors that influence levels of diversity maintained on-farm. A high phenotypic diversity index (0.79) was recorded from sampled barley varieties. Censored regression indicates that physical characteristics of the farm (land fragmentation index, farm size), agro climatic features of the site (altitude, rainfall, temperature) a...

Esta publicación es el resultado de una investigación colaborativa entre Bioversity International y la Fundación para la Promoción e Investigación de Productos Andinos (PROINPA). Trata temas relacionados a la conservación de la  agrobiodiversidad en finca, un campo poco abordado por la  investigación, a pesar de su rol fundamental en el mantenimiento de la diversidad agrícola mundial. Son pilares de la conservación agrícola aquellos agricultores que, por diversas razones, se distinguen de los demás por su contribución a la conservación de la diversidad de cultivos. En esta oportunidad, vamos a utilizar el término ‘agricultores custodios’, a pesar de que la terminología pueda no ser adecuada para todos los contextos sociales. El entender quiénes son los agricultores custodios, su presencia en el territorio, los tipos de cultivos que mantienen, el por qué y cómo lo hacen, así como el adquirir conocimientos sobre los factores culturales, sociales y económicos detrás de sus esfuerzos es, para los científicos, un paso muy importante en la elaboración de estrategias efectivas de conservación en finca. Las entrevistas abiertas y la observación participante son metodologías útiles para guiar futuros enfoques metodológicos y así avanzar en la comprensión de cómo los roles de los agricultores custodios pueden ser mejor reconocidos, aprovechados y apoyados por la sociedad. Este trabajo ha sido realizado en el marco de un importante proyecto mundial de las Naciones Unidas apoyado por el FIDA y la Comisión Europea, que se centra en el desarrollo de enfoques participativos e innovadores para la conservación en finca de Especies Olvidadas y Subutilizadas (EOS).

Conservation of indigenous tree species is crucial for restoration of ecosystems and provision of livelihood support functions among rural communities. However, most tree planting initiatives have promoted exotic species, ignoring native species which populations have for long depended on. This study assessed the indigenous tree species conservation and Use Values in the Kyoga plains and the highland ranges Agro Ecological Zones of Uganda. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to capture primary data from a total of 422 household heads. Data were coded and entered in SPSS statistical package (Version 16). Descriptive statistics were generated to establish the distribution of indigenous trees on farms and tree management options employed by farmers. Chi-square test at 5% probability level was used to assess whether there were any difference in indigenous tree establishment, propagation and management options in the four study districts. The Use Value index technique was used to ra...

In recent years activities on traditional knowledge about agricultural biodiversity have been carried on in Andalusia. This activity is based on the joint work of farmers, consumers, scientists, and other people interested in the use, conservation, production and exchange of local crop varieties. Participatory Action Research techniques and the new knowledge developed in Agroecology can enhance stakeholder participation in research activities. This local experience can be useful to learn about agricultural biodiversity management through Participatory and Agroecológical Breeding (P&AB).

En Andalucía se han desarrollado en los últimos años una importante labor en torno al conocimiento local relacionado con la biodiversidad agrícola basada en el trabajo conjunto de agricultores, consumidores, investigadores y otras personas interesadas en el uso, conservación, producción e intercambio de variedades locales de cultivo. Los nuevos conocimientos desarrollados en el campo de la agroecológia y la utilización de técnicas de Investigación Acción Participativa pueden facilitar la incorporación al proceso de investigación de los diferentes actores implicados. Como resultado de estas experiencias locales se pueden extraer conocimientos que ayuden a la puesta en marcha de procesos de manejo de la biodiversidad agrícola mediante Mejora Agroecológica Participativa (MAP).