Agriculture genetic resources are any genetic material of actual or potential value for food and agriculture. Agriculture genetic resources include all cultivated plant landraces and varieties, modern varieties, obsolete varieties, breeding lines, recombinant inbred lines (RILs), genetic stocks, near-isogenic lines (NILs), differential lines, exotic genetic resources, wild edible plants, and wild relatives of crops. It also includes reared animals that provide food, wool, and other products. Nepal is richly endowed with numerous agricultural crops and plants. The variation in altitudinal, topographical and aspects has made agricultural biodiversity possible. Comprising less than 0.1% of the earth’s land area, Nepal is home to about 600 species of food plants, 400 species of agro-horticultural crops, 60 species of wild edible fruits, 200 species of commercially important medicinal and aromatic plants, 300 species of orchids, 5000 species of insects, 185 species of fishes, and a variety of other economically and ecologically important species. About 21% (3.2 million hectares) of the total land area of Nepal is used for cultivation. Crops such as rice, beans, egg plant, buckwheat, soyabean, foxtail millet, citrus, and mango have high genetic diversity relative to other food crops. Agriculture genetic resources play a vital role in the national economy and food security, as more than three-quarters of the country’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Baglung District, a part of Gandaki Province, is a hilly district where most of the population are settled on the sides of the rivers. It covers an area of 1,784 km2 (689 sq mi) and has a population (2011) of 268,613. Fertile plains situated on either side of the rivers are used for farming. Headquarters of Baglung District is Baglung Municipality which is located on a plateau overlooking the holy - Kali Gandaki. Baglung is rich in herbal medicinal plants. Baglung enjoys warm summers and mild winters. Annual average tempersture range from a maximum of 26 degree celcius to a minimum of 19 degree celcius. Highest temperature at the lowest elevation of Baglung, Kharbang rises up to about 37.5 degrees Celsius in summer and the lowest temperature at Dhorpatan falls up to about −15 degrees Celsius in winter. The elevation of Baglung varies from about 650 meters at Kharbang to about 4,300 meters in Dhorpatan. The average annual rainfall recorded is 1060.9 ml. Rainfall is heavily affected by the monsoon and most of it occurs during the months of June through September. Rest of the year is mostly dry and sunny. Due to large topographic variation climate ranging from hot subtropical to temperate montage climate can be experienced within its limits.
Rice, maize, millet, wheat and potato are the major crops of Baglung.A case study carried out in Paiyunpata, Baglung-13 revealed that 19 landraces of rice in terms of qualitative characters are present in the study area alone. 12 landraces of wheat are reported from Baglung and conserved at Khumaltar, Kathmandu. Gahun and Bhagere gahun are two maong landraces of wheat reported from Baglung. Thulo (large White), Nano (Small white) and Maradi (Yellow) are the local varieties of maize grown in Baglung while Manakamana variety of maize is popular among the commercial farmers of Baglung. Baglung has the largest area and production of finger millet in Nepal. Different programs are conducted at different levels to conserve the indegenous germplasm that Baglung possesses. Potatoes are grown by almost all households. Local varieties such as Dhorpatan locan, Burtibang local etc are popular among the farmers. Cardinal variety, Khumal seto, Khumal rato etc are also cultivated here. Bhango is mixed cropped with potatoes, millet and maize. We can see three times cropping system in lower region of Baglung while two times and even one crop system is reported from higher altitude.
Winter Vegetables like rayo (Brassica juncia), radish (Raphanus sativus), bean (Dolichos lab lab) and summer vegetables like Sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica), Snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina), Bitter gourd (momordica charantia), Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), Common bean (Phaseolus spps.), Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), Chilli (Capsicum annuum), Brinjal (Solanum melongena), Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) are cultivated both at local and commercial level. Vegetables such as bottle gourd, chilli, tomato, cowpeas etc. have a large varietal diversity in the area. However, the genetic basis of such a diversity is yet to be proved. Many times it is difficult to give a discrete identification to a particular landrace due to the presence of several intermediate forms resulting from free outcrossing in case of cross-pollinated species. It is likely that a landrace known by the same name in different areas (e.g. Jarivo Lamo sponge gourd) may be genetically different. It might also be that landraces known by different names in different areas are genetically the same. This is an inherent problem while dealing with indigenous knowledge system. The issue is understandable as farmers make distinction between two varieties on the basis of few obvious morphological traits without having much idea of the difference in genetic level. Therefore, at some point it would be necessary to validate farmers' information with scientific knowledge
A study that was carried out at Dihi Gaun, Baglung, to understand the reasons for growing different landraces of a vegetable species at household level reported that growing different landraces of the same crop was not intentional. Farmers use seeds from the most preferred plant as is common in other food crops such as maize, leguminous crops etc. But to the surprise of the farmers, the resulting plants from the same seed source become variable in cross-pollinated species. While farmers at Khari Kuna, Baglung, reported that some farmers do not make conscious efforts to select and preserve the seed for the following season, instead use the seeds obtained from different sources and plant in the home garden. As a result, diversity is created and maintained in the home garden. However, the resulting biodiversity does not seem to be the legitimate effect of conscious effort of the farming communities. Given the fact, the biodiversity reported on selected vegetables is quite fragile as any relatively profitable opportunity could easily erode it at any time. Without farmers being aware of the existing biodiversity and their importance for present and future generations, whatever the level of diversity it could be easily eroded. Therefore, a concerted effort by international and national institutions to raise awareness on the issue is a prerequisite for any long-term program on biodiversity conservation and utilization.
Major fruits that are reported to be present in Baglung are mandarin, peach, plum,banana, apple, citrus and mango. Litchi is also cultivated in Baglung. Pokhara local, Tanahu local, Kalika local and Gorkha local are the varieties of litchi grown here. Mandarine cultivation is done from the elevation of 1200m to 1400m in commercial level. Kiwi farming ( Hayward variety) and walnut (Thin shell) farming is being encouraged among the farmers of baglung. Cardamom farming has just been started as it benefits the farmers with high profit. Tea and coffee gardening has just begun to catch the eyes of farmers of Baglung.
Poultry farming and goat farming are done by the farmers of Baglung and it is reported that cows and buffalo are reared in their ward. Buffalo farming and goat rearing has reached commercial level but poultry is reared mostly for household purposes. Oxes are kept for agricultural purposes. Local breeds of chicken such as Ghatikhuile, pwakh ultey, Kadaknath etc are found. Local breeds of buffaloes are kept while cows aren’t that popular in Baglung. Bee keeping is common among the farmers.
Due to climatic and topographic diversity, Baglung is also rich in floral diversity. Five types of forest are found in Baglung; subtropical evergreen, deciduous, coniferous, high temperate and cold desert type of forest vegetation. Major timber species are sal, khayar, champ, chilaune, utis, phalat, dhupi, gobre salla, khote salla, thingre salla, okhar, etc. Major fodder species are jamun, kutmiro, painyu, dudhilo, nimaro, syalphusre, khasru, koiralo, bhimal, ipil ipil, chuletro, bamboo, etc. Major NTFPs reported in Baglung are lauth salla, chiraito, lokta, argeli, kurilo, jyau, asare, jatamasi, pakhanbed, bel, thulo okhati, pine resin, sugandhawal, amriso, majitho, ban karela, nagbeli, machino, sunakhari, etc.
The mountains and hills of Baglung are alive with abundant genera of rhododendron and other beautiful wildflowers with few Lithophytes.
Baglung is indeed endowed with an incredible variety of orchids. Dendrobium is the largest species, followed by Habenaria and Bulbophyllum. Anthogonium, Hemipilia and Lusia are some of the other varieties amongst the nearly two dozen single species families.
Very beautifully portrait! Loved your writings!
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