|
Global Plan of Action 208.
Assessment: Increasingly, diversity is being
replaced by uniformity in the agricultural market place. Changes
in traditional cultures and in consumer preferences are one
explanation. Concentration
on productivity, the effects of advertising and the rise of
global consumer markets leading to stringent requirements
being imposed on farmers and the inadvertent disincentives
arising from legislation, policies, programmes and other institutional
activities offer additional explanations. Farmers
worldwide are losing once strong incentives to provide an
array of varieties. Both
in developed and developing countries, economic and social
incentives could be offered to encourage farmers who continue
to grow distinct, local varieties and produce "diversityrich''
agricultural products. 209.
A programme to assist in the creation of specialized niche
markets for biodiverse food crops could act as a positive
stimulus to farmers to grow landraces/farmers' varieties,
obsolete varieties, and other underutilized food crops. Such
a program should include the identification and removal of
systemic institutional barriers and disincentives to biodiversity
conservation and production/marketing 210.
Longterm objectives: Stimulate stronger demand
and more reliable market mechanisms for landraces/farmers'
varieties and related agricultural products. 211.
Intermediate objectives: To encourage farm suppliers,
food processors, food distributors, and retail outlets to
support the creation of niche markets for diverse foods, varieties
and products. 212.
Policy/strategy: Governments should consider,
and as appropriate, adopt policies in extension, training,
pricing, input distribution, infrastructure development, credit
and taxation which serve as incentives for crop diversification
and the creation of markets for biodiverse food crops, including
standards for labeling of foods which allow the highlighting
of use of nonstandard crop varieties. Consideration
should be given to developing appropriate niche variety registration
systems to permit and promote the perpetuation, trial, evaluation
and commercial distribution of local, obsolete varieties and
to monitoring regulations enacted for other purposes to ensure
that they do not inadvertently lead to the extinction of varieties.
213.
As feasible and appropriate, institutions should be encouraged
to purchase "diversityrich'' foods for internal use. 214.
Capacity: Processes and activities which have
or are likely to have significant adverse impacts on the conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity should be identified and
their effects on crop diversification monitored. 215.
Appropriate bodies, including NGOs, should promote public
awareness in various media and through appropriate mechanisms,
such as street fairs, initiatives in schools, etc. 216.
Coordination/administration: National and local
level coordination and administration should be most effective.
217.
This activity is closely linked with: |
