Executive Summary:
This document is the Indian government's response to questions in Lok Sabha regarding the promotion of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in India. It acknowledges the presence of three GIAHS sites and outlines existing support mechanisms. The document clarifies the government's position on GIAHS and related initiatives as of August 19, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
GIAHS Sites in India:
* India hosts three GIAHS sites recognized by the FAO: Koraput region (Odisha), Kuttanad farming system (Kerala), and Saffron Heritage (Kashmir).
* Koraput is noted for paddy cultivation, landrace diversity, and medicinal plants linked to tribal communities.
* Kuttanad features below-sea-level farming with wetlands, garden lands, and inland water bodies.
* Kashmir's Saffron Park is characterized by traditional saffron cultivation, intercropping, and organic farming.
Government Initiatives and Support:
* The government supports GIAHS sites through existing schemes and policies.
* Jammu and Kashmir's saffron cultivation is supported under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
* Odisha is taking steps to conserve biodiversity, preserve landraces, and promote branding in Koraput, including community seed banks and organic farming.
* Kerala includes infrastructure development works for the paddy sector in Kuttanad under RKVY-DPR projects, including "Haritam Harippad" and research on water hyacinth utilization.
Assessments and Policy:
* No comparative assessments have been made of countries like China regarding GIAHS integration.
* The government does not propose a dedicated national action plan or policy specifically for GIAHS sites, as it considers GIAHS an FAO programme and supports these sites through existing schemes.
Impact Analysis
Government of India (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare):
Impact: The Ministry is responsible for overseeing and supporting GIAHS sites through existing agricultural schemes and policies.
Action Required: Continue supporting the identified GIAHS sites through current programs like RKVY and MIDH, and monitor the progress of state-level initiatives.
State Governments (Odisha, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir):
Impact: These state governments are responsible for implementing initiatives to conserve biodiversity, preserve landraces, develop infrastructure, and promote the branding of their respective GIAHS sites.
Action Required: Continue implementing state-level plans for biodiversity conservation, infrastructure development, and promotion of GIAHS sites, and report progress to the central government.
Farmers and Local Communities in GIAHS Sites:
Impact: These communities benefit from initiatives that support traditional farming practices, conserve biodiversity, and improve infrastructure, leading to sustainable development and agrobiodiversity conservation.
Action Required: Participate in community seed banks, adopt organic farming methods, and engage with government programs to preserve their agricultural heritage and improve livelihoods.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
Impact: FAO is acknowledged as the originator of the GIAHS program.
Action Required: Continue providing technical support and guidance to India on the management and promotion of GIAHS sites.
Key Entities Referenced
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems: A program by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to identify and support agricultural systems of global significance.
Kuttanad: A region in Kerala, India, known for its unique below-sea-level farming system.
Koraput: A region in Odisha, India, known for its traditional agricultural practices and biodiversity.
Kashmir: A region administered as a union territory of India, known for its saffron heritage.
Odisha: A state in India where the Koraput region is located.
Kerala: A state in India where the Kuttanad farming system is located.
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana: A Government of India scheme for agriculture development.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture: A Government of India mission for development of horticulture.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4266
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19TH AUGUST, 2025
NATIONAL POLICY TO PROMOTE GIAHS SITES IN INDIA
4266. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that India has only a few sites designated under
the FAO's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) programme, despite
its rich traditional agricultural diversity;
(b) whether the Government has taken steps to leverage the development,
conservation, and branding potential of GIAHS, especially in culturally significant regions
like Kuttanad, Koraput, and Kashmir;
(c) whether any comparative assessments have been made of countries like China that
have successfully integrated GIAHS into rural development and eco-tourism policies;
(d) if so, the reasons for not adopting similar frameworks or incentives; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to formulate a dedicated national action plan or
policy to support and promote GIAHS sites as part of India's sustainable development and
agrobiodiversity conservation strategies?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): 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.
(c) & (d): No such assessments have been made.
(e): 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’.
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