ABSTRACT
The Jeypore region of Orissa state in India is considered to be a centre of origin of the Aus ecotype of rice, which is known for its early maturing upland varieties. As such, it is home to an enormous diversity in rice landraces (Arunachalam et al., 2006). Figure 4.4.1 shows the location of the Jeypore region in India. Rice has been the staple food of tribal farming communities in Jeypore for generations, and the conservation and use of local rice varieties is central to maintaining their traditional and characteristic lifestyle. Specific varieties are cultivated for use in different occasions, such as festivals, ancestral ceremonies, family functions and rituals. However, the tribal communities are very poor, often suffering from severe malnutrition. This contrast between wealth in diversity on the one hand, and absolute poverty and malnutrition on the other, signals the need for development strategies within a larger framework of community biodiversity management (CBM), for linking conservation with livelihood development. One of the key practices that contribute to poverty alleviation is that of transforming the rich diversity of rice into an economic asset, through a process of value-chain development and market promotion. In this way, communities can obtain economic benefits from their rice diversity.
