Why does poverty persist in regions of high biodiversity: a case for indigenous property right system

Abstract

The extent of rural poverty has been noted to be unusually high in the Vavilov centres of genetic diversity. Be it rice in Orissa, India or potato in Peru, the cultivator preserving genes for diversity are unable to benefit from newer technologies. The regions of specialized cultivation with mono crop or very low level of diversity and low risk conditions provide markets for mass consumption of external manufactured inputs. Paradoxically, this is possible precisely because genes for resistance to diseases/pests are available from high risk gene diverse environments. In view of the recent upsurge of global interest in indigenous knowledge system, it is necessary to analyse ethical, scientific, political, economic, ecological and cultural implications of extortion of surplus from biodiverse regions.