National Level Training on Agrobiodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods

Transcription

1 National Level Training on Agrobiodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods For Scientists and Technologists working in the Government sector 18-24, November 2016 Sponsored by: Department of Science and Technology Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India Organized by: National Level Training on Agrobiodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods M S Swaminathan Research Foundation Community Agrobiodiversity Centre. Puthoorvayal, P.O., Meppadi, Wayanad India

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3 Introduction Agrobiodiversity is the foundation of sustainable agricultural development. It includes the diversity of plants, animals, fish, trees and microbes that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture. The human race could not survive without access to this diversity, which enables plant and animal species and agro ecosystems to evolve and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Agrobiodiversity will continue to play an important role in enabling agriculture to enhance productivity, improve sustainability, support improved livelihoods for the rural poor and meet the challenge of changing production conditions such as those resulting from climate change, population growth, urbanization and an increasingly degraded environment. Agricultural production systems need to be focused more on the effective conservation and management of biodiversity and ecosystem services in order to address the triple objectives of Environmental Sustainability, Food Security and Improved Livelihoods. Agrobiodiversity makes important contributions to livelihoods of people living in rural areas and contributes significantly to the GDP of the nation. Realizing its importance, nations across the globe have signed and ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which addresses both wild and domesticated diversity, its conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits. The CBD recognizes in-situ conservation of agrobiodiversity as it supports conservation of domesticated and cultivated species in their original habitat, where they have developed their distinctive properties. While the scientific understanding of on-farm conservation and management has increased significantly, one of the major challenges over the past two decades has been the translation of conservation practices to fit into the context of livelihoods of small and often poor farmers. Climate change poses a number of challenges to agrobiodiversity and threats to food security; in particular food security of small farmers located in marginal production areas. At the same time agrobiodiversity is treated as the stock of genetic wealth having great significance in developing climate resilient farming systems. To meet growing food demands of the population, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) currently focuses on resilience to promote healthy functioning of ecosystems required for sustainable agriculture. Resilience is viewed as the capacity of farming communities to respond in a dynamic manner to social, economic and environmental changes. Diversity and the capacity to use diversity are fundamental attributes of resilience. The proposed training will focus on the manner of associating conservation oriented practices with farmers livelihood development in the context of climate change. In addition, the training would highlight the need for increasing the capacity of scientific community to engage with local communities and traditional knowledge holders at this juncture when there is widespread erosion, lack of interest and general apathy towards such issues. Finally the participants would also get an opportunity to understand the rapid and accelerating genetic and bioresources depletion that have long lasting implications on food and nutritional security.

4 Training Objective The overall objective of the training programme is to enhance participants capacities to understand the present status of agrobiodiversity from a global, regional and national perspective and the manner in which agrobiodiversity contributes to the sustainable livelihood of the resource poor farmers, living in marginal environments, in the context of climate change. The programme would: (a) Orient participants on various national legislations related to agrobiodiversity namely the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act 2001, and the Biodiversity Act, 2002; (b) Orient participants on the need for conservation of agrobiodiversity through various methods like ex-situ, in-situ and community conservation initiatives and need for adaptation to climate change; (c) Provide updates on current initiatives in value addition and marketing of agrobiodiversity based products to enhance income and livelihood options of farmers, and ; (d) Orient participants on the value of agrobiodiversity and its future potential; (e) Understand the role of agrobiodiversity in achieving food and nutritional security and the manner in which communities can collectively work towards resilience, in the face of social, economic and environmental changes. Training Modules Module 1 Global context for agrobiodiversity management to cover topics related to global change, impacts of climate change, policies for its conservation and use, processes shaping it, status and trends in agrobiodiversity and strategies for its conservation Module 2 Value of agrobiodiversity, products and services from agrobiodiversity with emphasis on livelihoods, food and nutrition system, gender aspects, traditional knowledge, environmental services and effects of climate change on it Module 3 Sustainable management of agrobiodiversity covering farmer s seed systems and participatory breeding, on farm conservation, and management of agrobiodiversity, value chains of neglected and under-utilized species, promoting local innovations in management, adaptation to climate change and nature of interventions taken up for it at different levels

5 Methodology Methodology includes: Classroom lectures by eminent scientists Group exercises Experience sharing Analysis of case studies Field visits Interaction with rural communities Video screening Interaction between faculties and participants etc The training will be mostly on an interactive mode involving the participants. Target Group of the Training Scientists / Technologists holding scientific posts / working in Scientific Ministries / Departments of Government of India and State governments, Autonomous Institutions / Public Sector undertakings of Central / State Governments, Research and Development Institutions / Research Laboratories of Central / State Governments, Central / State Universities, State Science and Technology Councils. Eligibility criteria for Participation in the Training Scientists/ Technologists, who have completed 5 years and above service in Group-A are invited Nominations from Academicians/Professors should be from those possessing a doctorate degree and are actively involved in research and development Age of Scientists/ Technologists should be less than 58 years (as on ) Periodicity for attending the training programme is once in a block of two years ( starting from )

6 How to Apply Interested participants to apply in the prescribed nomination form and duly recommended by the Controlling Officer of the Department/ Organization. The soft copies of completed forms may be sent to Mr. Girigan Gopi, Principal Scientist, MSSRF at on or before 5th November 2016 with a copy to office@mssrfcabc.res.in and trngcell.dst@nic.in Hard copies of the same may be posted to Mr. B. Girigan Gopi, Principal Scientist, Community Agrobiodiversity Centre, MSSRF, Puthoorvayal P.O., Meppadi, Wayanad, Kerala The training brochure and prescribed nomination form can be downloaded from the website: or Lodging / Boarding and Transportation Facilities The stay and boarding arrangements for the participants will be made in the guest house and Kalpeta Town. The classrooms, library and other facilities are situated within campus. The arrangements for pick up and drop from airport / railway station and bus station will be organized for the participants. Expectations from Participants The participants are encouraged to bring case studies and presentations related to the subject, based on their work experience and interests for which there will be opportunity for sharing and discussion among the participants and faculty. The subject being vast the active involvement and contribution to the discussions and group exercises by the participants would be instrumental in making the course relevant and interesting. At the end of the training, participants are expected to develop an action plan/ short project / paper on the contemporary issues of agrobiodiversity conservation in the context of sustainable livelihoods and climate change in relation to their area of work / research which they can take up after the training.

7 About MSSRF The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) was established in 1988 as a not-for-profit trust by noted agricultural scientist, Professor M. S. Swaminathan. The Foundation aims to accelerate use of modern science and technologies for sustainable agricultural and rural development. MSRF engaged in development and dissemination of technology to improve lives and livelihoods of tribal and rural communities. MSSRF works on a pro-poor, pro-women and pro-nature approach and applies appropriate science and technology options to address practical problems faced by rural populations in the areas of agriculture, food and nutrition. MSSRF carries out research and development projects in six major thematic areas viz.: 1. Coastal Systems Research, 2. Biodiversity, 3. Biotechnology, 4. Ecotechnology, 5. Food Security, 6. Information, Education and Communication besides special projects and cross-cutting areas and themes like Gender, Grass Root Institutions. It hosts a large body of experts and professionals who implement project and generate knowledge that is shared with the local communities and other stakeholders. All the efforts by the organization have been undertaken in a participatory manner in partnership with other knowledge-based institutions, public and private sector organizations and local communities. Over the years, the Foundation has made its impact felt in various dimensions making a difference in the lives of over 600,000 individuals, impacting livelihoods of 100,000 farmers and fisher folk every day. About the Community Agrobiodiversity Centre (CAbC) Community Agrobiodiversity Centre (CAbC) was established in 1997 at Wayanad district of Kerala, as one of the regional centres of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), The Centre was established to promote community conservation systems of rural and tribal people through research, extension and advocacy. Centre works in partnership with rural and farming communties for sustainable agricultural and rural development. The activities are designed in such a way that promote a pro-nature, pro-poor and pro-woman and a pro-livelihood orientation to technology development and dissemination. Operational area of the Centre is confined to Kerala. Over a period of more than two decades, MSSRF has evolved a C4 framework for the conservation, enhancement and sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity. MSS- RF s 4C framework integrates both eco-centric and anthropocentric approaches in conservation by giving simultaneous emphasis on conservation, cultivation, consumption and commerce. Apart from giving thrust to conservation of agrobiodiversity for food and livelihood security, the Centre is also engaged in conservation of rare, endemic and threatened plant species of Western Ghats. For the functional clarity, the Centre s activities related to biodiversity have divided into three thematic areas, ie, (1) Conservation and Enhancement, (2) Education, Communication and Training, and (3) Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security.

8 Send Your Application To Route map M S Swaminathan Research Foundation Community Agrobiodiversity Centre Puthoorvayal, P O Meppadi Wayanad India Phone: , office@mssrfcabc.res.in Website: HQ Website: