Conserving traditional rice varieties through management for crop diversity

Abstract

In situ, on-farm conservation is an important complement to ex situ conservation of traditional crop varieties. In Yunnan Province, China, management for crop diversity by mixed planting (intercropping) of traditional and hybrid rice varieties provides a possible means for sustainable on-farm conservation of traditional rice varieties. Since the adoption of this form of crop diversity management in 1997, the number of traditional rice varieties in cultivation has increased dramatically and now includes some varieties that were formerly locally extinct. The cultivated area of traditional varieties has also been greatly expanded. This form of management is easy to implement and links farmers' economic concerns with conservation. Management for crop diversity can promote on-farm conservation of rice, and potentially other crops too, in a feasible and sustainable way.