NDLI: Origins, Functions, and Persistence of Crop Biodiversity in the Betsileo Highlands, Madagascar

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Radanielina, T. Carrière, S. M. Serpantié, G.
Copyright Year	2014
Abstract	In order to assess Malagasy crop biodiversity (CB) richness and stability on a regional scale, an analysis at both species and variety levels was carried out in the Betsileo area of the Madagascar Highlands. The study zone was a transect between the humid forest zone and the drier savanna. Peasant agriculture is faced with the challenges of a fast–growing resident population, government development and forest conservation-based policies. Sampling was done at two scales: five villages and 45 farms representative of three main farm types (small and poor, medium–sized, and richer farms). Farm surveys were conducted to collect data on several aspects of CB: taxonomic richness, functions, origin, date of introduction, rarity, and threats. Forty–five species were recorded altogether. The number of species in each village varies from 27 (a forest village) to 41 (a savanna village). Sixteen species are omnipresent in the area: they constitute the common base of Betsileo agriculture. On the farm scale, species diversity is high everywhere: each farm grows half the species present in its village, but only several varieties thereof. Yet the six main species include 57 varieties in all, of which 46% are ancient and 76% are hardy landraces. The bigger farms grow significantly fewer varieties than smaller, poorer farms. Successful varietal introductions have not reduced local varietal diversity. Regional and local varietal richness of a species is closely linked to the number of varieties per farm, depending on local importance, ecological suitability, and risk management, and is increased by seed exchanges. Betsileo agriculture appears to be simultaneously dynamic and faithful to its risk strategies, way of life, and values, allowing conservation of its technical, genetic, and cognitive capital. Current individual practices of conservation of rare varieties through small collections and seed exchanges should be supplemented by collective actions.Afin d’évaluer la biodiversité culturale Malgache (CB) et sa stabilité à une échelle régionale, une analyse de la diversité spécifique et variétale a été réalisée en pays Betsileo, au Sud des Hautes Terres de Madagascar. La zone d’étude représente un transect entre la zone forestière humide et une zone de savane plus sèche. Les agriculteurs y sont soumis à la pression démographique, aux mesures de conservation et aux projets de développement. Cinq villages et 45 exploitations représentatives de trois types majeurs d’exploitation (petites pauvres, moyenne, riche) ont été échantillonnés et enquêtés. Des informations ont été collectées sur les différents aspects de la diversité des plantes cultivées: taxonomie, fonctions, origine, ancienneté, propriétés, importance quantitative et qualitative de l’espèce et de la variété. Au total, 45 espèces ont été enregistrées. Le nombre d’espèces par village varie de 27 (forêt) à 41 (savane). Seize espèces sont omniprésentes dans la zone, constituant la base de l’agriculture betsileo. Au niveau de l’exploitation, le nombre d’espèces maintenues est élevé: chaque exploitation cultive environ la moitié des espèces du village. Par contre le nombre de variétés par exploitation est modéré. Les six principales espèces cultivées contiennent pourtant au total 57 variétés dont 46% sont anciennes et 76% rustiques. La richesse variétale d’une espèce au niveau du village dépend d’abord du nombre de variétés maintenues par exploitation en relation avec l’importance locale de la culture, son adaptation écologique et la gestion du risque. Elle est accrue par les pratiques d’échanges de semences. Les grandes exploitations maintiennent moins de variétés que les petites. L’introduction de variétés de la recherche ne conduit pas à réduire l’utilisation des variétés locales rustiques et toujours appréciées. L’agriculture betsileo parait être à la fois dynamique et fidèle à son patrimoine, les choix et pratiques individuelles de conservation et d’échanges permettant à la fois l’évolution et la conservation des ressources génétiques et les valeurs culturelles. Les pratiques individuelles de conservation et d’échanges des variétés rares pourraient être complétées par des actions plus collectives.
Starting Page	123
Ending Page	136
Page Count	14
File Format	PDF
ISSN	00130001
Journal	Economic Botany
Volume Number	68
Issue Number	2
e-ISSN	18749364
Language	English
Publisher	Springer US
Publisher Date	2014-05-14
Publisher Place	Boston
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Madagascar Betsileo Agrobiodiversity Conservation Forest Highlands Ethnobotany Plant Sciences Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography Plant Anatomy/Development Plant Physiology Plant Ecology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Plant Science Horticulture

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1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
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4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
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