Agrobiodiversity in a biodiversity hotspot: Kerala State, India. Its origin and status

Abstract

This paper examines the status and characteristics of agrobiodiversity present in Kerala State, India, which is a part of the Western Ghats—Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot. They show much heterogeneity. The State grows 142 crop plants belonging to 104 genera and 43 families. Almost the entire agrobiodiversity conservation work is being carried out by the central government, even though the states are also mandated to do this work. This appears to have an adverse effect on agrobiodiversity conservation. Until now, most attention was being paid to only the most important food and commercial crops, and very limited to their wild relatives and the less important crop plants.