New Findings from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Describe Advances in Health and Medicine (Farmer-led Conservation of Paddy Landraces In Western Odisha).

A recent study conducted in Odisha, India, focused on the on-farm conservation practices employed by small-scale farmers for landraces, which are traditional crop varieties. The study found that farmers in the region cultivated and conserved a total of 30 paddy landraces, each valued for unique traits and cultural significance. The farmers utilized organic farming, reduced fertilizer use, biological pest control, and other practices for landrace conservation. The findings emphasize the importance of farmers' indigenous knowledge and cultural practices in conserving landraces, and suggest that tailored strategies and community involvement are crucial for effective landrace conservation initiatives. [Extracted from the article]