**Summary:**
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare announced a national policy to promote Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in India. Currently, India hosts three GIAHS sites recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): the Koraput region in Odisha, the Kuttanad farming system in Kerala, and the Saffron Heritage of Kashmir.
The Koraput region is characterized by subsistence paddy cultivation on highland slopes, a vast diversity of paddy landraces, and rich genetic resources of medicinal plants intertwined with indigenous tribal communities. The Kuttanad system in Kerala is a unique below-sea-level farming landscape comprising wetlands, garden lands, and inland water bodies. The Saffron Park of Kashmir is a rich agropastoral system known for traditional saffron cultivation, intercropping, and organic farming practices.
Government of India schemes and policies support these sites. The Government of Jammu and Kashmir is supporting the economic revival of saffron cultivation through the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). The Government of Odisha is taking steps to conserve biodiversity, preserve landraces, and promote branding in Koraput, incorporating community seed banks and organic farming methods. The Government of Kerala has included two infrastructure development projects for the paddy sector in Kuttanad under the current year's RKVY-DPR projects: (i) Haritam Harippadi infrastructural development works of various Padasekharams in Alappuzha District, and (ii) Assistance to Research on Ecological Utilization of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in Kuttanad.
This information was provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on August 19, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems: An initiative (GIAHS) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to identify and support significant agricultural heritage sites worldwide.
Food and Agriculture Organization: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
Koraput region, Odisha: A Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) site in Odisha, India, known for its subsistence paddy cultivation and biodiversity.
Kuttanad farming system, Kerala: A Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) site in Kerala, India, characterized by its unique below-sea-level farming practices.
Saffron Heritage of Kashmir: A Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) site in Jammu and Kashmir, India, recognized for its traditional saffron cultivation.
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana: A Government of India scheme (RKVY) aimed at enhancing agricultural development and productivity in the country.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture: A Government of India initiative (MIDH) focused on promoting the holistic development of the horticulture sector.
Shri Ramnath Thakur: Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided information in Lok Sabha.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
NATIONAL POLICY TO PROMOTE GLOBALLY
IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE
SYSTEMS (GIAHS) SITES IN INDIA
Posted On: 19 AUG 2025 5:40PM by PIB Delhi
As informed by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), India currently hosts three Globally
Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS): the Koraput region in Odisha, the Kuttanad
farming system in Kerala, and the Saffron Heritage of Kashmir. The Koraput region is renowned
for its subsistence paddy cultivation, predominantly on highland slopes, and is home to a vast
diversity of paddy landraces and farmer-developed varieties. It also harbors rich genetic resources
of medicinal plants, deeply interwoven with the indigenous tribal communities and their traditional
knowledge systems. The Kuttanad system in Kerala stands out as a unique below-sea-level
farming landscape, comprising wetlands for paddy cultivation and fish catching, garden lands for
coconut and food crops, and inland water bodies for fishing and shell collection. Meanwhile, the
Saffron Park of Kashmir represents a rich agro-pastoral system characterized by traditional saffron
cultivation, intercropping, and the use of organic farming practices, all of which contribute to
maintaining local biodiversity and soil health.
GIAHS is an FAO programme. Schemes and policies of Government of India support these sites.
As reported by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, for economic revival of saffron cultivation in
Jammu and Kashmir has been supported under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
Government of Odisha reported that proactive steps have been taken on conserving its biodiversity,
preserving landraces of different crops and branding in Koraput. The programme also incorporates
community seed banks and organic farming methods, focussing on revival of neglected crops and
forgotten foods.
As reported by the Government of Kerala, two works for the development of infrastructure in the
paddy sector in the Kuttanad region are included under the current year’s RKVY-DPR projects.
These include: (i) ‘Haritam Harippad’—infrastructural development works of various
Padasekharams in Alappuzha District. (ii) Assistance to Research on ‘Ecological Utilization of Water
Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in Kuttanad’.
This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,Shri Ramnath
Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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RC/ KSR/AR
(Release ID: 2158029)