Food sovereignty and uncultivated biodiversity in South Asia : essays on the poverty of food policy and the wealth of the social landscape

Date

2007

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

IDRC, Ottawa, ON, CA

Abstract

The book questions mainstream concepts of agriculture, including biases based on patriarchal categories of private and common land; the opposition between homestead and cultivated land; and a narrow focus on the cultivated components of agriculture. Among the undocumented hidden costs of development initiatives is the disappearance of knowledge about food systems based on everyday use of local environments, especially by women. As the authors emphasize, uncultivated biodiversity provides not just food security but food sovereignty, allowing people control over a basic need. Uncultivated plants and animals constitute a prominent place in local food systems and a vital part of agricultural practice.

Description

Co-published by Academic Foundation
DVD contents: Using diversity (40:47 min.); People's agenda for biodiversity (25:01 min.); Future of agriculture (40:38 min.)

Keywords

FOOD SECURITY, BIODIVERSITY, FOOD POLICY, POVERTY ALLEVIATION, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, SOUTH ASIA, SOCIAL ASPECTS, FARMERS, FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, UNCULTIVATED FOODS

Citation

DOI