CONTEXT

•  India’s biodiversity wealth:
  • Occupies 2% of global land, yet harbours ~8% of global biodiversity.
  • Identified as one of 17 megadiverse countries with sections of 4 global biodiversity hotspots.
  • Home to 8 centres of food-crop diversity.
• Threats to agrobiodiversity:
  • Rapid erosion due to climate change, urbanization, and agriculture intensification.
  • Traditional knowledge and indigenous dietary practices are vanishing.
  • Global diets now over-reliant on rice, wheat, and maize, causing nutrition gaps and vulnerability.

CONCEPT: ‘BIOHAPPINESS’ AND OPPORTUNITY CROPS

•  ‘Biohappiness’: A term inspired by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, highlighting human well-being through sustainable biodiversity use.
  • Links nutrition, health, ecology, and livelihoods.
• Opportunity Crops (Orphan crops):
  • Previously neglected local crops like millets, yams, amaranth, buckwheat, etc.
  • Rich in nutrients, climate-resilient, and ecologically adaptive.
  • Strongly embedded in tribal and rural food cultures.
•  Traditional Knowledge Systems:
  • Indigenous communities (e.g., Nyishi, Apatani, Kolli Hills farmers) have deep knowledge of medicinal and nutritional properties of wild foods.
  • These practices are at risk due to agricultural commercialization.

CURRENT INITIATIVES AND WAY FORWARD

•  Millet Missions & Schemes:
  • Shree Anna Yojana and International Year of Millets (2023) revived focus on ragi, jowar, bajra.
  • Odisha Millet Mission (Koraput) promotes community-led seed-to-plate millet revival.
•  Role of MSSRF:
  • Engaged in participatory research, biodiversity conservation, and farmer empowerment (esp. women).
  • Promotes soil health, value chains, and crop diversification.
• Emerging Biodiversity Science:
  • Supports climate adaptation, nutrition, bio-economy, and disaster resilience.
  • Can position India as a global leader in sustainable development and biodiversity-based innovation.

CONCLUSION

• Future of food = Diverse, nutritious, and sustainable.
• Pursuing Biohappiness = Protecting biodiversity, empowering communities, and ensuring well-being for future generations.

MAINS QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the significance of India’s biodiversity wealth and the threats it faces due to climate change, urbanization, and agriculture intensification. What initiatives can be taken to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity?
2. Analyze the concept of ‘Biohappiness’ and its relevance to human well-being. How can opportunity crops like millets, yams, and amaranth contribute to achieving Biohappiness?
3. Evaluate the role of traditional knowledge systems in promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture practices. What measures can be taken to preserve and promote these knowledge systems?