Genetic Diversity and Food Security by M.L. Narasaiah - 2011

Discovery Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., 2011. Hardcover. New. Maintaining a diversity of Crops and varieties is a key to Survival for millions of farmers living on impoverished land. For thousands of years, farmers have used to genetic variation in wild and cultivated Plants to develop their crops and raise new breeds of live stock. Genetic diversity gives Species the ability to adapt to changing environments, including new pests and Diseases and new Climatic conditions. Plant genetic resources-that component of genetic diversity of actual or potential use to humanity-provide the raw Material for Breeding new varieties of crops. These, in turn, provide a basis for more productive and resilient production systems that are better able to cope with such stresses as drought or` overgrazing and can reduce the potential for Soil erosion. The use of genetic diversity-on-farm, through field experimental or in sophisticated gene transfer procedures-remains arguably the best route so securing our food and that of our children. Although Science has made enormous strides in Improving the world`s ability to feed itself over the past three decades, we cannot afford to rest idle. Nearly 800 million people in the developing World do not have enough to eat. In these regions, the Rural Poor represent about 73 per cent of the people living in poverty. They often live in Marginal or unsuitable Farming areas, such as zones with saline soils, and conditions, or degraded or hilly areas. Often isolated from other farms and far from Urban areas, many poor farmers have barely benefited from Agricultural developments elsewhere. In many cases they do no have access to commercially bred high yielding Crop varieties. Diversity flourishes and remains important under such conditions. Contents, 1. Can Genetically Modified Organisms Feed the World? 2. Genetic Diversity and Food Security 3. Food First 4. Food Security : Availability and Access to Food 5. India`s Food Challenge 6. Food for the Billions 7. Less Food Security in the South 8. Food Production 9. Healthcare Relief in Conflict Situations : What Can We Learn from the Food Relief Experience? 10. Population Growth and Grain Production 11. Population Growth and Cropland 12. Population Growth and Oceanic Fish Catch 13. The Future of Agricultural Trade 14. The Indian Economy and the Cattle Wealth 15. Solving Conflicts Over Water Uses 16. Irrigation Management : Facing the Challenge 17. Population and the Environment : The Global Challenge 18. Population Growth and Waste 19. Saving the Planet : Imperialism in Green Garb? 20. The Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and the Developing Countries 21. Employment and Poverty Alleviation 22. The Dynamics of Rural Poverty in India 23. The Wto Dispute Settlement Mechanism 24. Safety First! 25. The Dematerialisation of the World Economy 26. Economics and Sustainable Development 27. Fertility Rates: The Decline is Stalling Printed Pages: 144.