In connection with the 9th Session of the Governing Body of International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resource for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) held from 19-24 September at New Delhi, Wayanad Tribal Development Action Council (WDTDAC) got an opportunity to participate and exhibit the crop diversity of Western Ghats. WDTDAC is a grassroots organization formed under the aegis of the Community Agrobiodiversity Center of M S Swaminathan Research Foundation to foster the conservation efforts by the indigenous communities and ensuring their livelihoods. For their efforts towards agro-biodiversity conservation, WDTDAC received the prestigious Plant Genome Saviour Community award in 2010-11 to recognise the tireless efforts of Kurichia and Mullukuruma communities in conserving the traditional rice varieties of Wayanad, Kerala.
A unique model was created by WDTDAC by constituting regional awards from the interest accrued from the award money to promote other custodian farmers engaged in agro-biodiversity conservation. WDTDAC constituted regional Adivasi Genome Saviour Award with the support and collaboration of Community Agrobiodiversity Center of MSSRF. So far WDTDAC has given 15 awards to tribal on-farm conservators promoting the conservation of different plant and animal genetic resources related to agriculture in the region.
