Biodiversity and organic agriculture - Opportunities and challenges for the north-east region of India and a model for the principles involved

This article highlights the potential of organic agriculture for enhancing biodiversity in the north-eastern hill region (NEHR) of India. Maintaining databanks on the status, utilization, magnitude of threat and rate of loss of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture is essential for evolving suitable institutional arrangements. Ecologically sound sustainable agriculture needs to be evaluated in terms of biodiversity conservation and improvement of farmers' income if it is to be established as the best option for attaining these twin objectives, particularly for this hilly region. In-depth analyses are required for ethno-botanical and socioeconomic research to understand farmers' knowledge and expertise, selection/breeding and utilization and management of plant genetic resources. This will require the approval of the farmers involved, and their knowledge and technologies will have to be protected. Changes in the local species and varieties and those used by farmers need to be understood in detail and appropriate scientific expertise should be exploited together with traditional agricultural practices and natural resources, thereby ensuring synergy between biodiversity and organic agriculture in the NEH region.