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Papers by Avik Ray

Food embodies our cultural identity, sense of taste, social status, and the extent of dependence ... more Food embodies our cultural identity, sense of taste, social status, and the
extent of dependence on resources. It has been the most crucial element in
establishing a liaison between humans and their environment. As hunter-gathers,
the human race has depended on a diverse resource base procured from the envi-
ronment from the early dawn of their evolution. The practice was partly lost owing to
the domestication of crops and the embracing of agricultural life. The dietary
diversity further shrunk in the recent century because of over-reliance on selected
cereal crops, while a large suite of edible species still remains at disposal. Here, we
review and synthesize the trajectory of consumption of wild edible plants, a part of
edible biodiversity, to delineate the link from prehistory to the present times. I also
analyze the diversity and its pattern, discuss the role of culture in use, and outline
their implications on food security policies in improving dietary diversity and in
creating a sustainable food system. The ndings show that the consumption of wild
uncultivated biota, though lessened over time, has not been completely abandoned.
They remained as subsistence food, insurance crop, or key alternate resource to tide
over the unfavorable period. Even now, apart from forest gathering, a plethora of
plants and animals from the various anthropogenic landscapes are collected, cooked,
and consumed likewise. Remarkable biodiversity (nearly 1400 species altogether) of
green leafy shoots, roots and tubers, fruits, owers, and many other edible plant
organs still form a part of our dietary repertoire. However, the edible oral diversity
is distributed heterogeneously across families, i.e., some families (e.g.,
Leguminosae, Compositae, Poaceae, Malvaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Lamiaceae,
Moraceae, etc.) contribute disproportionately to the edible species pool. Of total
diversity, a maximum number of species is consumed for their leafy shoots
(740 spp.), followed by fruits (657 spp.), roots and tubers (219 spp.), seeds
(155 spp.), and owers (153 spp.). The diversity also indicates their assimilation and wider acceptance of our food culture. The rich tradition of consumption of underutilized biota has the potential to be included in food policies to render our diet diverse and to enhance the nutritional outcome, like the inclusion under National Nutrition Mission programs, encouraging cultivation in nutrition or kitchen gardens, incorporation in mid-day meals, or related programs. Their high diversity, wider acceptance, and abundance could be a more effective way to combat micronutrient defciency or hidden hunger than the mass-scale promotion and adoption of biofortified crops.

Springer eBooks, Dec 31, 2022

The rapid and expansive decline of agrobiodiversity has become a global concern now. With the new... more The rapid and expansive decline of agrobiodiversity has become a global concern now. With the new research pouring in, the description of the problem, its scale and magnitude has been well documented and analyzed. So are suggested mitigation measures that include ex situ or in situ conservation measures. However, oftentimes the causal processes promoting the decline are equated with the general loss of biodiversity or developmental programs like the Green Revolution. While their negative impacts cannot be ruled out, the question of the decline deserves deeper examination. And, it should embrace the larger political ecological context that has been embedded in the historical development of crop breeding and improvement leading to global agrarian change. Though kick-started later in India, the crop improvement programs instrumental over decades also brought in irreversible decline in agricultural biodiversity. The aim of this chapter is to uncover the general processual developments in crop improvement programs and their effects on agricultural biodiversity. To do so, I analyze the country-wide situation by citing examples from various crops and taking their improvement history into account. It reveals that the release of improved cultivars and their gross acceptance followed by the dwindling of traditional varieties has led to gradual homogenization. For many crop species, just a few improved cultivars began to hold a significant percentage of acreage. Although it was pioneered by the Green Revolution cereals, rice and wheat, the decline of diversity and wider acceptance of only a few cultivars have been pervasive across crops, cereals and non-cereals alike. Cotton display yet another example of decline that has been rooted in historical processes. The recent invasion of GM cotton and other biofortified crops are the newer avenues of probable decline. Analyses also suggest that the productivity gain or yield increase has been the prime mover behind the improvement programs. I also delineate the implication of the decline for food security. It emphasize the impending threats from disease or pest susceptibility that may endanger global agriculture. It also recognizes the impacts of the general decline in diversity on changes in food and nutrition, loss of cultural diversity of food, and growing corporate power in agriculture. In conclusion, a set of mitigation measures through community mobilizations, and social institutions have been discussed; and a few complementary policy formulations have been recommended.

Citation: Ray A, Ray R and Sreevidya EA (2021) Corrigendum: How Many Wild Edible Plants Do We Eat... more Citation: Ray A, Ray R and Sreevidya EA (2021) Corrigendum: How Many Wild Edible Plants Do We Eat—Their Diversity, Use, and Implications for Sustainable Food System: An Exploratory Analysis in India. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 5:667541. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.667541 Corrigendum: How Many Wild Edible Plants Do We Eat—Their Diversity, Use, and Implications for Sustainable Food System: An Exploratory Analysis in India

The rapid and expansive decline of agrobiodiversity has become a global concern now. With the new... more The rapid and expansive decline of agrobiodiversity has become a global concern now. With the new research pouring in, the description of the problem, its scale and magnitude has been well documented and analyzed. So are suggested mitigation measures that include ex situ or in situ conservation measures. However, oftentimes the causal processes promoting the decline are equated with the general loss of biodiversity or developmental programs like the Green Revolution. While their negative impacts cannot be ruled out, the question of the decline deserves deeper examination. And, it should embrace the larger political ecological context that has been embedded in the historical development of crop breeding and improvement leading to global agrarian change. Though kick-started later in India, the crop improvement programs instrumental over decades also brought in irreversible decline in agricultural biodiversity. The aim of this chapter is to uncover the general processual developments in crop improvement programs and their effects on agricultural biodiversity.
To do so, I analyze the country-wide situation by citing examples from various crops and taking their improvement history into account. It reveals that the release of improved cultivars and their gross acceptance followed by the dwindling of traditional varieties has led to gradual homogenization. For many crop species, just a few improved cultivars began to hold a significant percentage of acreage. Although it was pioneered by the Green Revolution cereals, rice and wheat, the decline of diversity and wider acceptance of only a few cultivars have been pervasive across crops, cereals and non-cereals alike. Cotton display yet another example of decline that has been rooted in historical processes. The recent invasion of GM cotton and other biofortified crops are the newer avenues of probable decline. Analyses also suggest that the productivity gain or yield increase has been the prime mover behind the improvement programs. I also delineate the implication of the decline for food security. It emphasize the impending threats from disease or pest susceptibility that may endanger global agriculture. It also recognizes the impacts of the general decline in diversity on changes in food and nutrition, loss of cultural diversity of food, and growing corporate power in agriculture. In conclusion, a set of mitigation measures through community mobilizations, and social institutions have been discussed; and a few complementary policy formulations have been recommended.

The tryst of the endeavour of growing food with water is deep-seated and commenced with the early... more The tryst of the endeavour of growing food with water is deep-seated and commenced with the early dawn of agriculture. However, the magnitude of dependence underwent a remarkable change in the last half-century or more. In the South Asian context, farmers used to rely on the summer monsoon for their crops. Additional sources like smaller to bigger dams, perennial water bodies, streams, canals, and rivulets supplied much-needed water to the agri-@elds. Water requirements also vary widely with crops, for example, pulses can withstand shallow water conditions whereas a modern rice farmer rice could be horri@ed by crop failure in the same limiting conditions.

Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 2022

ABSTRACT Green leafy shoots are important components of the food culture of many Asian and Africa... more ABSTRACT Green leafy shoots are important components of the food culture of many Asian and African countries. We examined this aspect in India where a living tradition of consuming leafy green is ubiquitous. We investigated a database drawn from 105 studies to analyze the edible species diversity, spatial distribution, culinary diversity as a measure of acceptance, and complemented our interpretation with nutritional composition. We discussed it in light of the crisis of hidden hunger, agrarian change, and in formulating food policy. India demonstrated a rich heritage of eating leafy shoots that resonated in a high diversity of species (723 species) and culinary delicacies to accept them in various forms suiting its culture of taste. These plants are charged with key vitamins and minerals to mitigate micronutrient deficiency. Altogether, it emphasized their untapped potential to ensure nutritional security alleviating hidden hunger, specifically combating vitamin A deficiency. We also observed a heterogeneous distribution of edible species diversity across the regions perhaps affected by plant choice and suggested a data-driven framework to select a set of species for policy intervention. Building on our findings, we proposed their inclusion in national food policy through the encouragement of cultivation, awareness generation, and incorporation into meals.

Journal of Genetics, 2021

The apparent absence of Himalayan low-elevation taxa in the central Indian region and resumption ... more The apparent absence of Himalayan low-elevation taxa in the central Indian region and resumption of their distribution in the high elevation of Western Ghats has puzzled biogeographers for several decades. Many theories have been proposed to explain this but attempts remain futile owing to insufficient empirical support. Here, we have employed a montane tree species, Rhododendron arboreum to investigate this pattern by integrating past ecological niche modelling with molecular signatures. Reconstruction of paleo-ecological niche from interglacial to Last Glacial Maxima (LGM) portrayed a gradual depletion of vegetation cover with extreme impoverishment in the Holocene. A similar pattern was also reflected from genetic signatures; population history revealed a very recent split between the Himalayas and Western Ghats in the late Quaternary. A few other tree species exhibiting the same disjunction demonstrated a similar modification of paleo-ecological niche from last interglacial. The...

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2020

Wild edible plants are still eaten by a large section of the global population and ensure both af... more Wild edible plants are still eaten by a large section of the global population and ensure both affordable food and nutritional security. We tested this in an Indian context, where an enormous diversity of such plants constitutes a significant part of the rural diet and their acceptance has been high. In this study, we assessed the diversity of wild edible plant resource and the importance of species based on the use and its pattern. We have also shortlisted a set of plants to make an informed decision on prioritization. We found a great variety of plants (1,403 species) from 184 families were consumed across India, although the first 44 families (24%) contributed largely to the (75%) diversity. Leguminosae followed by Compositae, Poaceae, Malvaceae, and Rosaceae, were the families with the highest number of species. We note that a few species from the large pool were extensively used throughout the country while another few were valued for their multiple edible plant parts. Leafy sh...

Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Utilization, 2019

The rice-based agriculture of the Indian subcontinent has been interwoven in the rich socio-cultu... more The rice-based agriculture of the Indian subcontinent has been interwoven in the rich socio-cultural fabric of the country. Of which, bio-culturally diverse North-Eastern states nurture thousands of landraces with poorly tapped agronomic traits. In the present study, 27 standard microsatellite data from 171 rice landraces from six states were analysed to understand their genetic diversity and population structure. Further, combining with a global dataset, we determined subpopulation identity using both model-based and multivariate analyses to uncover their history. We found moderate to high genetic diversity and high differentiation [standardized G”ST = 0.57]. The AMOVA partitioned overall variance into within population (75%) and among population (25%). The landraces from six states remained at various degrees of differentiation (pairwise FST = 0.09–0.41). We have detected a preponderance of aus-type in a majority of aromatic landraces. Rests were japonica and admixed with a little...

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 2017

The loss of shattering of rice has long been acknowledged as a crucial step sweeping the path of ... more The loss of shattering of rice has long been acknowledged as a crucial step sweeping the path of domestication. Here, we collated evidence from genetics, and anthropology to challenge this long-held view. Our discussion dwelt on arguments that (1) undermined the effect of a mutation in the key locus (sh4) which does not always confer non-shattering, (2) identified the involvement of other loci, (3) uncovered natural variation in shatterability still existing in domesticated landraces, and (4) relatively recent fixation of the mutation. Similarly, cultural attributes asserted a long tradition of naturally shattering wild rice cultivation and adaptive strategies of gathering which is still widely exercised in many parts of South and SouthEast Asia, Africa, and Australia. Altogether, it strongly suggests that primitive agriculture thrived largely relying on wild rice or semi-domesticated shattering phenotype but non-shattering emerged into conspicuity much later in the history. Keywords Rice Á Domestication Á Shattering Á Wild rice Á sh4 Á Threshability Á Oryza rufipogon Griff. Á Zizania aquatica L. Á Cultural practice

Lantana camara is a highly invasive plant, which has spread over 60 countries and island groups o... more Lantana camara is a highly invasive plant, which has spread over 60 countries and island groups of Asia, Africa and Australia. In India, it was introduced in the early nineteenth century, since when it has expanded and gradually established itself in almost every available ecosystem. We investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of this plant in India in order to understand its introduction, subsequent range expansion and gene flow. A total of 179 individuals were sequenced at three chloroplast loci and 218 individuals were genotyped for six nuclear microsatellites. Both chloroplasts (nine haplotypes) and microsatellites (83 alleles) showed high genetic diversity. Besides, each type of marker confirmed the presence of private polymorphism. We uncovered low to medium population structure in both markers, and found a faint signal of isolation by distance with microsatellites. Bayesian clustering analyses revealed multiple divergent genetic clusters. Taken together, these findings (i.e. high genetic diversity with private alleles and multiple genetic clusters) suggest that Lantana was introduced multiple times and gradually underwent spatial expansion with recurrent gene flow.

South Asian History, Culture and Archaeology, 2022

The cultivation of cotton and production of cotton textiles have been a well-entrenched culture a... more The cultivation of cotton and production of cotton textiles have been a well-entrenched culture and it has supported the economy of the Indian subcontinent since historic times. The subcontinent attained excellence in textile production relying on high-quality and decentralized cotton production, elegant workmanship, efficient and locally-evolved tools, and intergenerational knowledge of dyeing, stitching, and printing. The glory began to fade with the introduction of exotic species and the saga of decline continued thereafter. Here, I revisited the historic cotton cultivation that fed the production of diverse cotton textiles catering to local and global consumers. It revealed a broad range of local varieties grown almost throughout the country in a range of agro-ecosystems. The different quality of cotton supplied the raw material to manufacture very simple, coarse to elegant and extravagant textiles of myriad kinds. A review of historic texts also showed that farmers have exercised various practices like multi-cropping, crop rotations, and cultivating extensively or intensively contingent on available capital and resources, over the centuries. These demonstrate their ability to adopt measures to mitigate risk and underscore the primacy of farmers in decision-making. The cultivation of cotton began to change responding to various socioeconomic factors and intensification of production, especially in the twentieth century, was one of the drivers underlying such change. In summarising, I show the apparent contrast between some critical dimensions of the past and present cultivation practice and shed light on a part of the agricultural history of cotton and its change.

Food embodies our cultural identity, sense of taste, social status, and the extent of dependence ... more Food embodies our cultural identity, sense of taste, social status, and the
extent of dependence on resources. It has been the most crucial element in
establishing a liaison between humans and their environment. As hunter-gathers,
the human race has depended on a diverse resource base procured from the envi-
ronment from the early dawn of their evolution. The practice was partly lost owing to
the domestication of crops and the embracing of agricultural life. The dietary
diversity further shrunk in the recent century because of over-reliance on selected
cereal crops, while a large suite of edible species still remains at disposal. Here, we
review and synthesize the trajectory of consumption of wild edible plants, a part of
edible biodiversity, to delineate the link from prehistory to the present times. I also
analyze the diversity and its pattern, discuss the role of culture in use, and outline
their implications on food security policies in improving dietary diversity and in
creating a sustainable food system. The ndings show that the consumption of wild
uncultivated biota, though lessened over time, has not been completely abandoned.
They remained as subsistence food, insurance crop, or key alternate resource to tide
over the unfavorable period. Even now, apart from forest gathering, a plethora of
plants and animals from the various anthropogenic landscapes are collected, cooked,
and consumed likewise. Remarkable biodiversity (nearly 1400 species altogether) of
green leafy shoots, roots and tubers, fruits, owers, and many other edible plant
organs still form a part of our dietary repertoire. However, the edible oral diversity
is distributed heterogeneously across families, i.e., some families (e.g.,
Leguminosae, Compositae, Poaceae, Malvaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Lamiaceae,
Moraceae, etc.) contribute disproportionately to the edible species pool. Of total
diversity, a maximum number of species is consumed for their leafy shoots
(740 spp.), followed by fruits (657 spp.), roots and tubers (219 spp.), seeds
(155 spp.), and owers (153 spp.). The diversity also indicates their assimilation and wider acceptance of our food culture. The rich tradition of consumption of underutilized biota has the potential to be included in food policies to render our diet diverse and to enhance the nutritional outcome, like the inclusion under National Nutrition Mission programs, encouraging cultivation in nutrition or kitchen gardens, incorporation in mid-day meals, or related programs. Their high diversity, wider acceptance, and abundance could be a more effective way to combat micronutrient defciency or hidden hunger than the mass-scale promotion and adoption of biofortified crops.

Springer eBooks, Dec 31, 2022

The rapid and expansive decline of agrobiodiversity has become a global concern now. With the new... more The rapid and expansive decline of agrobiodiversity has become a global concern now. With the new research pouring in, the description of the problem, its scale and magnitude has been well documented and analyzed. So are suggested mitigation measures that include ex situ or in situ conservation measures. However, oftentimes the causal processes promoting the decline are equated with the general loss of biodiversity or developmental programs like the Green Revolution. While their negative impacts cannot be ruled out, the question of the decline deserves deeper examination. And, it should embrace the larger political ecological context that has been embedded in the historical development of crop breeding and improvement leading to global agrarian change. Though kick-started later in India, the crop improvement programs instrumental over decades also brought in irreversible decline in agricultural biodiversity. The aim of this chapter is to uncover the general processual developments in crop improvement programs and their effects on agricultural biodiversity. To do so, I analyze the country-wide situation by citing examples from various crops and taking their improvement history into account. It reveals that the release of improved cultivars and their gross acceptance followed by the dwindling of traditional varieties has led to gradual homogenization. For many crop species, just a few improved cultivars began to hold a significant percentage of acreage. Although it was pioneered by the Green Revolution cereals, rice and wheat, the decline of diversity and wider acceptance of only a few cultivars have been pervasive across crops, cereals and non-cereals alike. Cotton display yet another example of decline that has been rooted in historical processes. The recent invasion of GM cotton and other biofortified crops are the newer avenues of probable decline. Analyses also suggest that the productivity gain or yield increase has been the prime mover behind the improvement programs. I also delineate the implication of the decline for food security. It emphasize the impending threats from disease or pest susceptibility that may endanger global agriculture. It also recognizes the impacts of the general decline in diversity on changes in food and nutrition, loss of cultural diversity of food, and growing corporate power in agriculture. In conclusion, a set of mitigation measures through community mobilizations, and social institutions have been discussed; and a few complementary policy formulations have been recommended.

Citation: Ray A, Ray R and Sreevidya EA (2021) Corrigendum: How Many Wild Edible Plants Do We Eat... more Citation: Ray A, Ray R and Sreevidya EA (2021) Corrigendum: How Many Wild Edible Plants Do We Eat—Their Diversity, Use, and Implications for Sustainable Food System: An Exploratory Analysis in India. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 5:667541. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.667541 Corrigendum: How Many Wild Edible Plants Do We Eat—Their Diversity, Use, and Implications for Sustainable Food System: An Exploratory Analysis in India

The rapid and expansive decline of agrobiodiversity has become a global concern now. With the new... more The rapid and expansive decline of agrobiodiversity has become a global concern now. With the new research pouring in, the description of the problem, its scale and magnitude has been well documented and analyzed. So are suggested mitigation measures that include ex situ or in situ conservation measures. However, oftentimes the causal processes promoting the decline are equated with the general loss of biodiversity or developmental programs like the Green Revolution. While their negative impacts cannot be ruled out, the question of the decline deserves deeper examination. And, it should embrace the larger political ecological context that has been embedded in the historical development of crop breeding and improvement leading to global agrarian change. Though kick-started later in India, the crop improvement programs instrumental over decades also brought in irreversible decline in agricultural biodiversity. The aim of this chapter is to uncover the general processual developments in crop improvement programs and their effects on agricultural biodiversity.
To do so, I analyze the country-wide situation by citing examples from various crops and taking their improvement history into account. It reveals that the release of improved cultivars and their gross acceptance followed by the dwindling of traditional varieties has led to gradual homogenization. For many crop species, just a few improved cultivars began to hold a significant percentage of acreage. Although it was pioneered by the Green Revolution cereals, rice and wheat, the decline of diversity and wider acceptance of only a few cultivars have been pervasive across crops, cereals and non-cereals alike. Cotton display yet another example of decline that has been rooted in historical processes. The recent invasion of GM cotton and other biofortified crops are the newer avenues of probable decline. Analyses also suggest that the productivity gain or yield increase has been the prime mover behind the improvement programs. I also delineate the implication of the decline for food security. It emphasize the impending threats from disease or pest susceptibility that may endanger global agriculture. It also recognizes the impacts of the general decline in diversity on changes in food and nutrition, loss of cultural diversity of food, and growing corporate power in agriculture. In conclusion, a set of mitigation measures through community mobilizations, and social institutions have been discussed; and a few complementary policy formulations have been recommended.

The tryst of the endeavour of growing food with water is deep-seated and commenced with the early... more The tryst of the endeavour of growing food with water is deep-seated and commenced with the early dawn of agriculture. However, the magnitude of dependence underwent a remarkable change in the last half-century or more. In the South Asian context, farmers used to rely on the summer monsoon for their crops. Additional sources like smaller to bigger dams, perennial water bodies, streams, canals, and rivulets supplied much-needed water to the agri-@elds. Water requirements also vary widely with crops, for example, pulses can withstand shallow water conditions whereas a modern rice farmer rice could be horri@ed by crop failure in the same limiting conditions.

Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 2022

ABSTRACT Green leafy shoots are important components of the food culture of many Asian and Africa... more ABSTRACT Green leafy shoots are important components of the food culture of many Asian and African countries. We examined this aspect in India where a living tradition of consuming leafy green is ubiquitous. We investigated a database drawn from 105 studies to analyze the edible species diversity, spatial distribution, culinary diversity as a measure of acceptance, and complemented our interpretation with nutritional composition. We discussed it in light of the crisis of hidden hunger, agrarian change, and in formulating food policy. India demonstrated a rich heritage of eating leafy shoots that resonated in a high diversity of species (723 species) and culinary delicacies to accept them in various forms suiting its culture of taste. These plants are charged with key vitamins and minerals to mitigate micronutrient deficiency. Altogether, it emphasized their untapped potential to ensure nutritional security alleviating hidden hunger, specifically combating vitamin A deficiency. We also observed a heterogeneous distribution of edible species diversity across the regions perhaps affected by plant choice and suggested a data-driven framework to select a set of species for policy intervention. Building on our findings, we proposed their inclusion in national food policy through the encouragement of cultivation, awareness generation, and incorporation into meals.

Journal of Genetics, 2021

The apparent absence of Himalayan low-elevation taxa in the central Indian region and resumption ... more The apparent absence of Himalayan low-elevation taxa in the central Indian region and resumption of their distribution in the high elevation of Western Ghats has puzzled biogeographers for several decades. Many theories have been proposed to explain this but attempts remain futile owing to insufficient empirical support. Here, we have employed a montane tree species, Rhododendron arboreum to investigate this pattern by integrating past ecological niche modelling with molecular signatures. Reconstruction of paleo-ecological niche from interglacial to Last Glacial Maxima (LGM) portrayed a gradual depletion of vegetation cover with extreme impoverishment in the Holocene. A similar pattern was also reflected from genetic signatures; population history revealed a very recent split between the Himalayas and Western Ghats in the late Quaternary. A few other tree species exhibiting the same disjunction demonstrated a similar modification of paleo-ecological niche from last interglacial. The...

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2020

Wild edible plants are still eaten by a large section of the global population and ensure both af... more Wild edible plants are still eaten by a large section of the global population and ensure both affordable food and nutritional security. We tested this in an Indian context, where an enormous diversity of such plants constitutes a significant part of the rural diet and their acceptance has been high. In this study, we assessed the diversity of wild edible plant resource and the importance of species based on the use and its pattern. We have also shortlisted a set of plants to make an informed decision on prioritization. We found a great variety of plants (1,403 species) from 184 families were consumed across India, although the first 44 families (24%) contributed largely to the (75%) diversity. Leguminosae followed by Compositae, Poaceae, Malvaceae, and Rosaceae, were the families with the highest number of species. We note that a few species from the large pool were extensively used throughout the country while another few were valued for their multiple edible plant parts. Leafy sh...

Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Utilization, 2019

The rice-based agriculture of the Indian subcontinent has been interwoven in the rich socio-cultu... more The rice-based agriculture of the Indian subcontinent has been interwoven in the rich socio-cultural fabric of the country. Of which, bio-culturally diverse North-Eastern states nurture thousands of landraces with poorly tapped agronomic traits. In the present study, 27 standard microsatellite data from 171 rice landraces from six states were analysed to understand their genetic diversity and population structure. Further, combining with a global dataset, we determined subpopulation identity using both model-based and multivariate analyses to uncover their history. We found moderate to high genetic diversity and high differentiation [standardized G”ST = 0.57]. The AMOVA partitioned overall variance into within population (75%) and among population (25%). The landraces from six states remained at various degrees of differentiation (pairwise FST = 0.09–0.41). We have detected a preponderance of aus-type in a majority of aromatic landraces. Rests were japonica and admixed with a little...

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 2017

The loss of shattering of rice has long been acknowledged as a crucial step sweeping the path of ... more The loss of shattering of rice has long been acknowledged as a crucial step sweeping the path of domestication. Here, we collated evidence from genetics, and anthropology to challenge this long-held view. Our discussion dwelt on arguments that (1) undermined the effect of a mutation in the key locus (sh4) which does not always confer non-shattering, (2) identified the involvement of other loci, (3) uncovered natural variation in shatterability still existing in domesticated landraces, and (4) relatively recent fixation of the mutation. Similarly, cultural attributes asserted a long tradition of naturally shattering wild rice cultivation and adaptive strategies of gathering which is still widely exercised in many parts of South and SouthEast Asia, Africa, and Australia. Altogether, it strongly suggests that primitive agriculture thrived largely relying on wild rice or semi-domesticated shattering phenotype but non-shattering emerged into conspicuity much later in the history. Keywords Rice Á Domestication Á Shattering Á Wild rice Á sh4 Á Threshability Á Oryza rufipogon Griff. Á Zizania aquatica L. Á Cultural practice

Lantana camara is a highly invasive plant, which has spread over 60 countries and island groups o... more Lantana camara is a highly invasive plant, which has spread over 60 countries and island groups of Asia, Africa and Australia. In India, it was introduced in the early nineteenth century, since when it has expanded and gradually established itself in almost every available ecosystem. We investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of this plant in India in order to understand its introduction, subsequent range expansion and gene flow. A total of 179 individuals were sequenced at three chloroplast loci and 218 individuals were genotyped for six nuclear microsatellites. Both chloroplasts (nine haplotypes) and microsatellites (83 alleles) showed high genetic diversity. Besides, each type of marker confirmed the presence of private polymorphism. We uncovered low to medium population structure in both markers, and found a faint signal of isolation by distance with microsatellites. Bayesian clustering analyses revealed multiple divergent genetic clusters. Taken together, these findings (i.e. high genetic diversity with private alleles and multiple genetic clusters) suggest that Lantana was introduced multiple times and gradually underwent spatial expansion with recurrent gene flow.

South Asian History, Culture and Archaeology, 2022

The cultivation of cotton and production of cotton textiles have been a well-entrenched culture a... more The cultivation of cotton and production of cotton textiles have been a well-entrenched culture and it has supported the economy of the Indian subcontinent since historic times. The subcontinent attained excellence in textile production relying on high-quality and decentralized cotton production, elegant workmanship, efficient and locally-evolved tools, and intergenerational knowledge of dyeing, stitching, and printing. The glory began to fade with the introduction of exotic species and the saga of decline continued thereafter. Here, I revisited the historic cotton cultivation that fed the production of diverse cotton textiles catering to local and global consumers. It revealed a broad range of local varieties grown almost throughout the country in a range of agro-ecosystems. The different quality of cotton supplied the raw material to manufacture very simple, coarse to elegant and extravagant textiles of myriad kinds. A review of historic texts also showed that farmers have exercised various practices like multi-cropping, crop rotations, and cultivating extensively or intensively contingent on available capital and resources, over the centuries. These demonstrate their ability to adopt measures to mitigate risk and underscore the primacy of farmers in decision-making. The cultivation of cotton began to change responding to various socioeconomic factors and intensification of production, especially in the twentieth century, was one of the drivers underlying such change. In summarising, I show the apparent contrast between some critical dimensions of the past and present cultivation practice and shed light on a part of the agricultural history of cotton and its change.

Domestication and diversification of Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) is contentious and o... more Domestication and diversification of Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) is contentious and over- whelmed by research on two subpopulations, indica and japonica; while aus group remains relatively under-explored. Recent studies have uncovered the genetic legacy of aus and its unrealized potential in breeding through discovery of novel genes for stress tolerance and other traits. In this article, I revisit the existing body of research on aus employing historical, genetic, ethnographic, and archeo- logical evidence to reconstruct its domestication, diversification, and finally its decline. My synthesis underscores two distinct foci of domestication of drought-tolerant and deepwater sub-groups around the highlands of the south-eastern part and flood-plains of the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, respectively. It followed spatial expansion over time and space to reach distant places faraway from these foci. The vibrant culture of upland rice across the Indian subcontinent and even beyond reflect their acceptance owing to their ability to grow in water-limiting conditions, in short-duration, and with little management. My analysis also revealed a possibility of aus being cultivated in pre-kharif hot and dry Indian summer or zaid season yet with variation in cropping period that spanned from March - June (sowing) to July - October (harvest). Historical texts are replete with the culture of aus cultivation throughout the regions that encompass West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, Jharkhand, north-eastern states, and Bangladesh. It could also have reached Himalayan countries like Bhutan, Nepal, or even Myanmar, finally embarking on central Vietnam as Champa rice. The decline of aus cultivation commenced in the last century with the promotion of high-yielding boro rice. Lastly, I summarize the potential of aus rice to grow in marginal as well as in flooded conditions that could offer a solution to achieve sustainability in agriculture, an aspect that has received limited attention from the policymakers.

World Development Sustainability, 2022

Agricultural intensification riding on the Green Revolution ushered bountiful production of selec... more Agricultural intensification riding on the Green Revolution ushered bountiful production of selected staples (rice, wheat, maize) in the developing nations and caused a significant economic growth. It showered a new hope through a package of high-yielding seeds of rice and wheat, laying networks of irrigation and facilitating groundwater usage, over-dependence on agro-chemicals, primarily nitrogenous fertilizers, and broad institutional support that claimed to have changed the trajectory of agricultural growth of India. However, its negative impacts have become apparent now. Looking closely and locally at the eastern state of India, I examine various detrimental effects, in terms of agricultural biodiversity, HYV acceptance, and water, and agrochemical usage. In summarizing, I also analyze the findings in terms of environmental sustainability. The major shrinkage of aus or autumn rice acreage and near extinction of landraces, the establishment of a few high-yielding varieties are a few key changes overly visible in the rice cultivation system of West Bengal state. It has also become heavily dependent on groundwater, nitrogenous fertilizers, and pesticides. The side-effects of indiscriminate use of groundwater took a toll on human health through heavy metal poisoning. Monocropping of HYVs also accelerated a heavy onslaught of pests causing major crop loss. Building on these results, it does not seem to grow endlessly and remain sustainable in the long run. The study reinforces its snowballing vulnerability to climate change endangering food systems.

Krishak Jagat, 2023

The global apiculture market is calculated to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ... more The global apiculture market is calculated to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% during the period 2020-25. In India, apiculture is a multi-million dollar industry whose market size is likely to reach a value of Rs 33,128 million by 2024 and expand at a CAGR of nearly 12% by 2024. India is the eighth largest honey-producing country and stands ninth in export (Press Information Bureau 2022). The recorded export of natural honey reached 59,536.75 MT for INR 633.82 crore in 2019-20 (Sethi 2021). Inside the country, honey consumption has witnessed strong growth over the last few decades though per capita consumption of honey is still low in India compared to several developed countries. Thus, apiculture is a pillar of the Indian economy contributing 17.1% of GDP (Ministry of Information 2010). It supports millions of bee farmers in the country of which the majority is small, marginal, and migratory. They produce a range of honey from seasonal or perennial crops, placing their boxes in plantations, orchards, agricultural fields, and near-forested patches. Apart from honey, a number of other by-products are also associated with Apiculture, e.g., beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, honeycomb, etc. While the beekeeping industry continues to grow and generate livelihood, its more prominent and complementary role in agri-horticulture is neither well-appreciated nor is the potential entirely tapped. As a result, it does not find a place in policies that could be mutually accelerating for both industries and create a win-win situation. Especially, when the duo can be integrated and work hand in hand to benefit each other mutually. It becomes even more crucial in recent times when global pollinator decline is a grave concern that has been impacting our agricultural or horticultural production endangering our food and nutrition security (Potts et al. 2010). Perhaps with climate precarity looming large, the flowering phenology would change, and so will be a change in nectar volume, and other physiological characteristics (Numata et al. 2022). Hence, it might snowball, affect the honey industry, and imperil the livelihood of millions of bee farmers. In light of this socio-ecological crisis, I would strive to propose and delineate a sustainable path for two interdependent sectors, agri-horticulture, and apiculture, to mend this apparent distant relationship so both can mutually benefit from the interaction.

CEiBa Newsletter , 2022

A relook into Hayao Miyazaki's much-loved movie, 'My Neighbour Totoro', and its wide and clear me... more A relook into Hayao Miyazaki's much-loved movie, 'My Neighbour Totoro', and its wide and clear message on environmentalism wrapped in childhood fantasy.

Cropping pattern is the spatial arrangement and temporal sequence of crops in agricultural fields... more Cropping pattern is the spatial arrangement and temporal sequence of crops in agricultural fields and is a key attribute of any farming system. Traditional cropping patterns have largely disappeared from Indian agriculture following the Green Revolution that has promoted rice-wheat based cropping systems. Whereas crop diversification through multiple cropping has been largely recommended to instill resilience to farming systems. In the current study, we have sought to understand how has the cropping pattern changed over time in two largely rainfed districts of northern West Bengal, the hills (Kalimpong) and the foothills (Alipurduar)? What were the drivers? How did they perform in terms of agro-ecological principles and how might it affect the sustainability of their food systems? How do multiple cropping systems fare in comparison to monoculture? Employing a mixed approach of field study and historical data analyses, we found significant changes in cropping patterns in two districts in the last seventy years; but changes have been more pronounced in the Alipurduar. However, the hill people still practicing traditional multiple cropping demonstrated a higher score on agroecological scale than their counterpart. We conclude by saying that farming systems in the hills, though undergoing rapid change, are relatively resilient and sustainable over the period; whereas the condition of the same in the foothills has been in poor state.