Role of women in conserving plant genetic resources and related traditional knowledge for food security

Abstract

Women have been the custodian of plant genetic resources and its related indigenous traditional knowledge from time immemorial. This was the woman who first domesticated the plants, thereby initiating the art of agriculture and science of farming. To ensure an uninterrupted supply of healthy food to her family, her role changed dramatically from a food gatherer to plant selector, from plant domesticator to plant conservator and from food provider to a nutritionist. The role of woman in agriculture production varies from managers of small farm holding to landless labourers, thereby contributing equally to the household income. Not only this, they are the vigilant guards and custodians of our traditional culture, rituals or festivals thereby playing a pivotal role in maintaining and conserving the cultural plant diversity. To enumerate the role of woman in conserving plant genetic resources and their traditional knowledge is a herculean task, but it is the need of the hour to note her contributions in today’s techno-savvy world in the scenario of emerging intellectual property regimes.