1. Custodian Farmers of
Agricultural Biodiversity
Putting Theory into Practice: What can we
learn from custodian farmers of
agricultural biodiversity in situ ?
Bhuwon Sthapit, Hugo Lamers & Ramanatha Rao
Bioversity International

5. Inter and intra specific diversity of
Mangifera sp., Nephelium sp., and
Gracinia sp.
Unique and rare fruit diversity!
Source: Salma Idris, Malaysia

6. Diversity in orchards and home
gardens of custodian farmers

7. Few basic questions?
• Why making so much fuss about custodian
farmers?
• What we really mean by custodian farmers?
• How we can identify them?
• What are the characteristics of such custodian
farmers?
• What are current roles and functions of such
farmers?
• Are there different types of custodian farmers?
• What role they can play for the national PGR
system?
• Why this workshop? Why this theme is important
global consultation issue?

8. Why is it important to identify
and define custodian farmers?
• Little research done on effective methods
how to strengthen on-farm conservation or
guide interventions
• Seems effective and efficient approach for
on-farm conservation interventions
• These farmers play a key role:
– Linking traditional knowledge to
scientific knowledge
– Linking formal sector to informal seed
exchange sector

9. What we really mean by
custodian farmers?
How can we identify
them?

10. Who are Custodian Farmers?
Custodian farmers are those conserver
farmers who actively maintain, adapt
and disseminate agricultural
biodiversity over time and space,
including the culture and institutions in
which it is embedded, and the
knowledge needed for its use and
cultivation
http://www.futurepolicy.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Axel/Genetic_Res
ources/Regulation_germplasm_bank_custodian_Tuscany.pdf

11. WHAT are the Key Characteristics
of Custodian Farmers?
1. Driven by conservation ideology
2. Knowledge holder of traits
3. Community recognition
4. Highly motivated and self-directed
5. Consistent and unshaken
commitment
6. Willing to share knowledge and
materials

12. WHAT are the Essential Roles and
Functions of Custodian Farmers?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Maintenance
Adaptation/innovation/selection
Promotion/dissemination
Continuity
Note: Genetic resources are deeply
embedded in knowledge and practices of
farmer’s livelihood and food culture

14. Typology of Custodian Farmers

15. What are the Key Roles of
Custodian Farmers?
Role
Description
Indicators
Maintain
Richness of species/varieties/ traits
Guardian of at least 1 unique/rare/
special/difficult to propagate
Adapt
Rich ecological knowledge of
diversity, heritability and selection
Selection of specific crop, varieties
and trait adapted to local conditions;
needs; adversity
Promote
High frequency of exchange of
seed and associated knowledge
Community members frequently cite
source of seed from a particular node
Continuity Over time ensure land use system
that harbor portfolio of species and
varieties
Sets of traits maintained when old
varieties are replaced
Transfer of knowledge and practice to
younger generation
Ensure alternative options that under
threat

16. Sources of Motivation
• personal (driven by passion or sensitivity
regarding the need for conserving diversity to
future generations; hobby)
• social (driven by the desire to conserve
particularly relevant crops for festivity and food
culture)
• economic (driven by the need for safeguarding
diversity for economic options of the HH)
• agro-ecology (driven by the natural assets)
• cultural (driven by the awareness regarding the
intimate link between genetic and cultural
diversity)

17. Geographic Locations of Case
Studies of Custodian Farmers

18. Methodology

19. Result: Who Maintains Diversity and How?
Custodian farmers of Malihabad site
Community
Kasmandi Kalan
Gopramau
Sarsanda
Mohammad
Nagar
Taluqedari
Total
Name of the farmer
Mr Nawab Hasan
Mr Parmeshwar Sharma
Mr Amir
Mr Chhote Lal Kashyap
Mr Jamuna Prasad
Mr Tulsi Ram
Mr Rameshwar
Mr Mohan Lal
Mr Ram Asre
Mr Ramesh Chandra
Rafeeq
Mr Ram Chandra
Number of varieties
40
30
24
135
70
30
45
35
25
09
10
08
461
(Source: Rajan et al 2012, TFT Project)

22. Policy support of custodian
farmers
Key issues
• How could we consolidate roles of CF
as conserver, dynamic innovator and
promoter of diversity?
• Could such custodian farmers be
recognized as community gene bank
and be publicly supported?

23. Key Questions
• How could society continue to motivate
such farmers, generation after
generation?
• Could custodian farmers contribute to a
national conservation strategy?
• How policy could support for their roles in
use and conservation?

24. So, the Purpose
1. to develop deeper understanding of the
roles and functions of custodian farmers in
conservation, use and dissemination of
agricultural biodiversity;
2. to highlight their contribution to the
national plant genetic resources system
and overall sustainable agriculture
development; and
3. to raise their visibility and recognition in
the field of genetic resources
management.

25. Specific Objectives
• Discuss and refine the concept and
methodology to identify custodian farmers.
• Consolidate the role of custodian farmers
for conservation and availability of/access to
ABD through recognition, visibility and
creating linkages (policy support).
• Formulate an action plan to support
custodian farmers and recognize their
contributions to the society.

26. Expected Outputs of the
Workshop
• A draft strategy that contribute to work
plans of ICAR-Bioversity International and
other countries’ genebanks as a strategy
for on-farm conservation.
• Methodology for identification and
recognition
• Publication of a book or peer reviewed
paper - Custodian farmers of tropical fruit
tree diversity

27. Format of Workshop Methodology
A dynamic mix of
• Brief self introduction of custodian farmers;
• Short talks on a conceptual framework for
custodian farmers;
• Country case studies, and experiences from
custodian farmers;
• Expert opinions;
• Sharing of overview results from profile
documentation;
• Sharing outcome of questionnaire surveys to set
round-table discussions and interactive focus
group workshops agenda;
• Action plans and publication

28. 1-day Focus Interactive Group
Discussions
Custodian farmers
1.
2.
3.
4.
Motivations (drivers)
Functions (roles)
Challenges
Support required
Suradet Tapuan