Revista de biodiversidad y especies en peligro de extinción

From the cultural desk of India: Expressions of agro-biodiversity in a festival called Thiruvathira

Abstract

Mini N Vijayan

The Brahmin network in Kerala has a ritualistic subculture and every and each standard ritual is green and in large part uses the nearby plant biodiversity. Written documentations on this regard are very uncommon and if in any respect recorded are historical and thereby inaccessible to the not unusual place guy because of linguistic barriers. In the backdrop of this scenario, the writer who herself is a member of this network felt the need for a systematic documentation, in large part due to the fact the traditions accompanied with the aid of using the network ingrained inside it the historical information of residing in unison with nature. The E-book written in Malayalam language with the aid of using Late Smt. Parvathy Antherjanam- ???Antherjanangalude aacharanushtanangal??? (Customary rituals and spiritual rites determined with the aid of using ladies of Brahmin network, 2002); the most effective one in every of its type and discussions with the elders with inside the network have shaped the premise of this studies.

At the planet scale, range of species grown is essential. Underutilized staple meals (eg. tef, buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa, millets)  want studies in order that their manufacturing may be worthwhile for farmers and for sustainable use of the land. Because of weather alternate and the want to lessen agriculture carbon footprint, efficient use of land is paramount: we must keep away from in any respect charges similarly land clearing. For the subsequent four decades, till international populace stabilizes (in round 2060), the developing call for for meals must be met through developing greater meals from the identical area. This would require intensive, fairly efficient systems. Agricultural biodiversity can make contributions to the intensification: developing greater species, greater plants in line with year, species together (intercropping, blended cropping), novel rotations, etc. Agricultural biodiversity also can help in transitioning diets to greater pulses (eg. bambara, cowpea, fonio, beans), end result and nuts as a manner to lessen meat intake as recommended through the EAT-Lancet report.

At the local scale, developing a variety of species allows numerous resources to the local markets. However there are instances in which specialized in depth manufacturing in a single place with delivery of the produce to different regions is extra sustainable use of the land and the resources (eg. Carbon emitted in keeping with kg of produce).

At the farm scale: Ago-ecological parameters (latitude, temperature, day length, water precipitation or irrigation availability, land topography and soil types, etc.)  and socio-political parameters (populace density, landholding size, land tenure arrangements, get right of entry to to farm input, credit score and insurance, get right of entry to to markets, etc.) decide for a huge element which vegetation may be grown in a selected vicinity at a selected time. Once those key parameters are accounted for, marketplace call for and policies (eg. authorities procurement subsidies) will affect farmers’ character choices of what they develop and how.

The studies paper brings forth a few expressions of conventional agro-biodiversity in reference to a spiritual competition celebrated with inside the nation known as Thiruvathira. Ettangadi is a standard fit to be eaten coaching made at some stage in the competition which uses six varieties of tubers and some different agricultural products. The ethno agro variety in Ettangadi coaching is mentioned and the 8 species are scientifically documented. A overview at the meals fee and dietary and healing factors of the flowers also are recorded with inside the study. Documenting, tapping such indigenous know-how pass an extended manner now no longer most effective in beginning new vistas in meals protection however additionally in holding biodiversity of a region.