Asian Agri-History

V. Ramanatha Rao ¹

Affiliations
1 GRSV Consulting Services, No. 8, Eagle Ridge, Bengaluru – 560068, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Earth’s ecosystem is made of both living and non-living entities and their interactions. The living component is the community of plants, animals and all other living beings interacting with each other (in a given area), while the non-living include weather, earth, sun, soil, climate and, atmosphere. Each region/location of the globe has its own ecosystem made up of the biological, geochemical, and physical processes that surround it. The structural components of an ecosystem are the vegetation, water, soil, atmosphere and biota and their interactions within and across ecosystem(s). In turn, ecosystem services are the benefits that we obtain from ecosystems, for example, food and water, disease control etc. that maintain the conditions for life on the Earth. The living component of the ecosystem is the biodiversity, comprising variety of life on the Earth across all the different levels of biological organization. Scientists, social activists, and the political masters are now recognizing the degradation of ecosystem services and functions, and loss of biodiversity that have been happening over the years and the efforts needed to make them sustainable for future generations. In a similar manner, in ancient times a few enlightened beings in several different traditional societies had recognized the importance of ecosystems, functions and services, and biodiversity. Since our ancestors had limited physical reach i.e. ability to travel to distant lands or sample ecosystems, and collect plants and animals from different geographic locations in large numbers. However they had enough mental capacity to interpret and draw context specific conclusions. They had fair understanding of ecosystem elements and their effects on humans, plants and animals, and could visualize the need for protecting (conservation) and making use of natural resources, including biodiversity. This paper summarizes the concepts of ecosystem, its functions and services, and focuses on biodiversity conservation and use based on ancient wisdom and modern science.

Keywords

Agrobiodiversity, Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystem Functions, Ecosystem Services, Utilization.

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M. J. Vasudeva Rao ¹, V. Ramanatha Rao ², Sharan Angadi ³

Affiliations
1 GRSV Consulting Services, Bengaluru – 560114, Karnataka, IN
2 GRSV Consulting Services, No. 8, Eagle Ridge, Bengaluru – 560068, Karnataka, IN
3 GRSV Consulting Services, Bengaluru, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Historically human beings have evolved with the progression of the world. Humans in the wild were hunter-gatherers for meeting their food needs. Agriculture started when they settled down at one place, and started cultivating plants and rearing animals which provided food and gradually other needs. Since then, by selectively propagating and growing the plants of choice, humans have, intentionally or otherwise, changed the genomes of virtually every plant grown for food or non-food purposes. More recently, changing of genetic structure of plants has continued more vigorously and precisely as plant breeding based on the science of genetics developed. In this paper, we describe how humans have used, knowingly or unknowingly, the basic methods of plant breeding, in directing the evolution of plants. References are made, where relevant, to ancient writings, especially from India.

Keywords

Agriculture, Cultivar, Crop Improvement, Domestication, Evolution, Genetics, Hybrid, Plant Breeding, Selection.

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V. Ramanatha Rao ¹

Affiliations
1 GRSV Consulting Services, Bengaluru – 560068, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

The relationship between ecosystems functions and services and biodiversity is discussed and the components of biodiversity are briefly described with a focus on agricultural biodiversity and plant genetic resources. The importance of agricultural biodiversity for sustained future of humans is discussed, along with links to historical knowledge with modern-day needs and thinking as to: (i) why we should be concerned about biodiversity conservation, (ii) how conservation and use of biodiversity at different levels is essential for our survival and (iii) how such efforts can be balanced with contemporary developmental efforts. The concepts of biodiversity conservation and conservation of plant genetic resources are noted, along with a brief description of current approaches of in situ and ex situ conservation and the complimentarity between the two. Wherever possible, I have tried to link these with our ancient tenets and practical suggestions and conclude with the need to combine the two knowledge systems for an improved approach to conservation and use of biodiversity, leading to a healthy ecosystem.

Keywords

Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystem Functions and Services, Plant Genetic Resources, Synthesis of Knowledge Systems, Utilization.

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