In 1994 M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation received a generous grant from the Government of Italy through the efforts of Prof. Scarascia Mugnozza to support MSSRF's activities in integrated conservation. This facilitated the establishment of a community gene bank named G.T. Scarascia Mugnozza Community genetic Resource Centre (SMCGRC). The major aim of this Centre is to support and recognize the community conservation systems. The SMCGRC also has a herbarium of farmers' varieties. The ex situ conservation under SMCGRC is distinct on few counts from the widely practiced ex situ conservation. Accessions in the ex situ gene bank are deposited by farming communities, who had evolved and conserved these accessions, with trusteeship entrusted with M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. This gene bank is a medium-term storage facility maintained 40 C and 25% RH. A duplicate sample of each accession is also stored in the long-term storage at the national gene bank as an additional safeguard. The accessions belonging to major food crops are notable for agronomic potential under different biotic and abiotic stresses. They are accessible, subject to Indian laws by any party with prior informed consent of the holder community. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation facilitates such access through mutually agreed terms and material transfer agreement.
Accessions have detailed digitalized database called farmers right information system (FRIS). This includes the traditional knowledge associated with each accession, their passport data and nationally and internationally accepted scientific descriptors. This database is devised to establish the intellectual property rights of farmers on their variety.
Community Conservation Systems
Since its inception, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation has been undertaking and advocating in situ on-farm conservation, particularly in parts of India notable for high agro biodiversity and rapid genetic erosion. The conservation approach practiced and advocated by MSSRF includes in situ on-farm and ex situ gene bank conservation. It has been actively engaged in conservation of genetic diversity of rice in Jeypore tract of Orissa, which is a major center of rice genetic diversity, the nutritious millets in Kolli hills of Tamil Nadu and the medicinal plants including rice varieties of medicinal value in Wayanad area of Western Ghats in Kerala. The tribal communities associated with the conservation are the Malayali tribe in Kolli hills, Amanatya, Bhatra, Bhumia, Didayi, Kolar, Koya, Kutia, Kuvi, Langia soura, Paroja, Pentia, Rana, Sabarkandha, Soura and Sundhi in Jeypore, and Kurichiya, Kuruma, Mullukurumba, Paniya, and Kattunayakka in Wayanad.
The Agro biodiversity Conservation Corps formed by the efforts under this initiative in these states mobilized tribal youth, school children, rural women and men in conservation, trains in managing village gene-seed-grain bank and documenting local agro biodiversity.
In situ-On farm Conservation
An important feature of in situ on farm conservation is involvement of traditional conservors, integration of conservation with a community gene-seed-grain bank continuum and establishment of economic stake in conservation using participatory plant selection, value addition and market linkages. Unlike the conservation undertaken by public institutions at public costs, the conservation practiced by tribal and rural communities is at private cost. The in situ on farm conservation involves high opportunity cost due to the low economic potential of many traditional varieties in comparison with modern high yielding varieties. In situ conservation is made sustainable when communities are able to link conservation with economic or cultural stakes as well as their way of living. The knowledge system established and the genetic enrichment achieved under in situ conservation are of profound significance to future agriculture.
Contact Details:
Dr. M. Geetha Rani
Genebank Manager,
genebankmanager@mssrf.re.in