Crop Diversity In Agriculture

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Genetic diversity of crops is the foundation for sustainable agriculture/ horticulture and global food security. Conservation and sustainable utilization of agro-biodiversity plays vital role in ensuring food security, alleviation of poverty and enhancing livelihood measures. It has potential for employment generation and risk minimization. Maintenance of crop diversity is more remunerative as compared to monoculture. The ability of certain land races to withstand drought, grow in poor soil, resist an insect or disease, give higher yield or produce a better tasting food are traits passed on naturally by the genes present in that particular plant genetic resource. To fulfil the ever increasing demand of food, better understanding and management of genetic diversity is essential. Monoculture of genetically uniform modern varieties is replacing the highly diverse local cultivars and landraces in traditional agro-ecosystems. Globalization, industrialization, urbanization, changing life styles and market economies are contributing indirectly to the loss of diversity particularly of minor and neglected crops. Therefore,…show more content…
Our main diet is composed of major crops such as wheat, rice, potatoes and sugar. Globally 45% of our calories of human diet come from wheat, rice and maize. The rising demand for food and the growth of the urban population have intended that mono-cultural farming is prioritised over diversified production. The food processing units promote uniform crop farming. This is meant the introduction of homogenised plants. Homogenisation causes higher risk of destruction of crops from climate change, drought, pests and disease i.e., conditions which will grow worse with increasing population pressure globally. Moreover, in the developing world this form of agriculture often restricts people’s access to affordable food that is also

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