Paper Details

Traditional agricultural practices have played a crucial role in preserving plant biodiversity, ensuring food security, and maintaining ecological balance. This study explores the role of indigenous farming methods in conserving plant biodiversity across four major agro-climatic zones in India: the Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Gangetic Plains, and Deccan Plateau. Using a survey-based research design, data were collected from 250 traditional farmers through structured questionnaire surveys and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. The findings highlight that traditional farming systems support significant crop diversity, particularly in millets, pulses, indigenous rice varieties, and native vegetables. On-farm seed saving remains the dominant conservation practice (61.8%), while community seed banks (37.5%) are underutilized. Agro-ecological methods such as organic manure (82.4%), crop rotation (74.8%), and mixed cropping (68.2%) are widely practiced, contributing to soil fertility and pest management. However, challenges such as market pressure for commercial crops (72.4%), climate change effects (66.2%), and government policy neglect (49.5%) threaten biodiversity conservation efforts. This study identifies a literature gap in national-scale comparative analyses of traditional farming’s impact on biodiversity and addresses it by providing a broad regional perspective. The research emphasizes the need for policy interventions that integrate traditional knowledge with scientific conservation strategies. Strengthening community-led seed conservation programs, promoting climate-resilient indigenous crops, and enhancing government incentives for biodiversity-friendly farming are crucial for ensuring the sustainability of India’s agricultural heritage.

Traditional agriculture, plant biodiversity conservation, indigenous farming, seed conservation, agro-ecological practices, sustainable farming in India.