This technical brief explores the management of crop diversity by small-scale farmers in southern Africa. Its objective is to guide DRR practitioners through some basic principles to plan and implement agriculture and food security interventions that make farmers more resilient to natural hazards by including aspects of management of crop diversity. Special attention is given to activities that help farmers strengthen the sustainable use of this crop diversity. For example, the production and management of seed and planting material is a good example of how farmers manage the genetic diversity of the crops and varieties they use as part of their agricultural production system.
In recognition of the fact that a combination of traditional and modern varieties often occurs on the same farm, both the formal and informal seed systems and their potential role in facilitating the management and conservation or crop diversity are addressed in the document. Finally, it also integrates the potential for economic development that can result from the improved management of crop diversity.