1Bioversity International, Maccarese, Rome-00057, Italy
2All India Coordinated Pearl Millet Improvement Project, Mandor, Jodhpur-342304, Rajasthan
3Bioversity International, Pusa, New Delhi-110012
*Author for Correspondence: E-mail: c.bonham@conservation.org; Present address: Conservation International, Arlington, VA 22202, USA)
Online published on 24 May, 2012.
The aim of this paper is to understand the determinants of on-farm diversity of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) farmers in Rajasthan, in terms of: the patterns of use of intra-specific diversity, the characteristics of both the agricultural systems and the farmers who conserve agro-biodiversity, as well as the factors that motivate farmers to grow a diverse crop. Two hundred pearl millet farming households in the 10 largest pearl millet producing districts of Rajasthan were surveyed using structured interviews about household socio-economics and use of crop genetic diversity. This analysis shows that landrace cultivation has decreased in the last ten years. Additionally, an asset-based poverty index, was created in order to classify households into three poverty groups. It was found that affluent farmers maintain a greater degree of varietal diversity on farm than poorer farmers. Irrigation and income are key determinants which affect these patterns of on-farm diversity.
Agro-biodiversity, Conservation, Intra-specific diversity, Pearl millet, Rajasthan
