Peasant Agriculture and the Conservation of Crop and Wild Plant Resources

TLDR

Peasant agroecosystems integrate farming and natural ecosystems, serving as in‑situ repositories of crop and wild plant germplasm, and their resources depend on culturally shaped human management, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural diversity. The authors argue that genetic conservation should be linked to rural development projects that incorporate ethno‑botanical knowledge, promote food self‑sufficiency, and maintain traditional farming systems and adjacent ecosystems. Preservation of these agroecosystems cannot succeed without maintaining the local people’s cultural practices.

Abstract

Abstract: Peasant agroecosystems are seen as a continuum of integrated farming units and natural ecosystems where plant gathering and crop production are actively practiced Many of these traditional agroecosystems still found throughout developing countries constitute major in situ repositories of both crop and wild plant gemzplasm. These plant resources are directly dependent upon management by human groups; thus, they have evolved in part under the influence of farming practices shaped by particular cultures. Because genetic conservation programs are more effective when preserving the ecosystems in which the resources occur, maintenance of traditional farming systems and adjacent natural ecosystems is proposed as a sensible strategy for in situ preservation of crop and wild plant genetic resources. It is here argued that preservation efforts should be linked to rural development projects that take into account the eth‐nobotanical knowledge of rural people and that emphasize both food self‐sufficiency as well as local resource conservation. Preservation of these traditional agroecosystems cannot be achieved when isolated from maintenance of the culture of the local people. Therefore, projects should also emphasize maintenance of cultural diversity.