She-Power Behind Agrobiodiversity Conservation
In the remote Stone Village of Lijiang, nestled in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, a remarkable transformation is taking place. Zhang Xiuyun, a local farmer, has emerged as a champion of agrobiodiversity, spearheading efforts to preserve and enhance traditional crop varieties.
For generations, farmers in Stone Village cultivated the same seeds passed down through their ancestors. However, with the rise of high-yielding commercial crops, many local varieties faced the threat of extinction. Recognizing the need to protect this valuable biodiversity, a partnership was formed a decade ago between the village and the Farmers’ Seed Network, an NGO dedicated to agrobiodiversity conservation.
Through training sessions focused on traditional agrobiodiversity practices, Xiuyun and other local women learned to collect, classify, and select landrace varieties. Embracing her new role as a farmer breeder, Xiuyun began experimenting with different corn varieties. Over the past ten years, she has bred and tested 49 varieties of corn, with some seeds even being named after her—”Xiuyun No.1″, “No.2”, and “No.3”. These seeds have garnered international attention, reaching as far as the United States, Peru, and India.
“By using both traditional Chinese varieties and seeds brought from abroad, we improved and bred new corn seeds after years of trial and error,” Xiuyun explains. “These seeds have a higher germination rate, require less straw, and are well-suited for our mountainous terrain.”
Xiuyun now leads a team of women breeders in Stone Village. Together, they have established a community seed bank managed by the women’s team. The seed bank has preserved 113 local varieties to date, with 63 varieties officially registered. This initiative not only safeguards traditional crops but also enhances the community’s resilience to climate change and external shocks.
The empowerment of women like Xiuyun is proving to be a vital force in agrobiodiversity conservation. As more men migrate to cities for employment, women increasingly assume responsibility for agricultural production. Their deep connection to the land and traditional knowledge positions them uniquely to protect and promote crop diversity.
However, despite their significant contributions, women often face limited access to resources and decision-making opportunities in environmental policies. Experts argue that empowering women in rural areas could have profound impacts. A report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization suggests that increasing women’s management over land could boost global GDP by nearly $1 trillion, reduce food insecurity, and curb biodiversity loss.
Efforts to support women in agriculture are yielding tangible benefits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while many rural communities missed planting seasons due to limited access to commercial seeds, the farmers in Stone Village utilized seeds from their community seed bank, maintaining food security in challenging times.
Globally, ecosystems face unprecedented threats, with significant biodiversity loss undermining the well-being of millions. In this context, women’s involvement in environmental conservation is more crucial than ever. By providing education, training, and greater access to resources, societies can harness the potential of women to enhance the resilience of ecological systems.
“Let’s equip women with good education and skill training,” urges Xiuyun. “By increasing women’s access and decision-making power over land and resources, we can make significant strides in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.”
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
