ABSTRACT
In April 2010, farmers from Gahat and Skrang carried out an experiment to assess how crop biodiversity is managed in each community by measuring the extent and distribution of rice varieties. Conservation work began in 1963, when 305 accessions were collected; it continued over six Department of Agriculture explorations from 1991 to 1999 and now includes over 2,000 accessions of rice. During the gene bank workshop, farmers expressed a desire to have access to rice varieties that have better tolerance to pests and diseases, which they saw as major problems associated with climate change. The characteristics of rice most valued by the farmers were organoleptic and agronomic qualities, followed by postharvest features. Gene banks may be able to provide varieties that will satisfy farmer demands. In response to the farmers' interest in better seed storage, focus group discussions were held in Gahat and Skrang in August 2012 to explore the potential for establishing a community-managed seed bank.
