Novel Approach In Conserving Land Races Through Farmers' Participation In India.

Land races are the source of genetic material for abiotic stress based crop improvement but inherently low grain yielder, most of them are endangered due to adoption of high yielding and hybrids. Conservation of these land races are necessary for breeding programmes. Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] is a predominant staple cereal crop of Southern India and had long history of domestication. Seeds are rich in calcium and digestible fiber. More than 30 % of finger millet cultivable area is under traditional land races thus, sheltering a potential genetic diversity. On-farm management advocates the maintenance of local crop varieties at the community level. Performance of finger millet land races could continue to evolve place where they originated, would respond to changes in selection pressure caused by pests, diseases and even climate change. Hence, it needs special attention for future breeding programmes. ‘Sahaja Samrudha’ a non-government organization involved in conserving land races and crop improvement through participatory plant breeding programme. There are 27 traditional land races were collected in different parts of India. Existing land races are being evaluated since 2006 for their performance with the farmer’s participation before and after harvest of the crop. The land races were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications. The biometric observations were recorded to know their potentiality in different agro-ecosystems. Diversity in fingermillet land races was predominant in some parts of the state. Land races viz., Jagalur ragi, Kolimotte ragi, Hasiru bunduga, Bonda ragi and Tidalu  ragi  have been identified as best varieties due to higher grain and fodder yield and is popular among farmer’s and researchers. Some of the qualitative and quantitative traits viz., growth and development, resistance to drought, quality of grain and fodder etc. serves as source for crop improvement. Farmers’ selection criteria, skills and conservation of finger millet germplasms were enhanced in crop improvement due to participatory techniques. Further, the cultivation and native conservation of these land races are possible through community seed bank.