Aiming for an era of ‘biohappiness’ in India, Pg6

• Context: The article highlights the rapid loss of India’s agrobiodiversity and traditional food knowledge. It calls for a shift towards “biohappiness”—a concept rooted in conserving biodiversity, reviving traditional crops, and leveraging interdisciplinary science.

• India harbours nearly 8% of global biodiversity while covering only 2% of land area, ranking among 17 global 'megadiverse' nations.

• Traditional food systems and biodiversity in tribal and rural India are rapidly declining due to modern agricultural shifts.

• Global food systems rely heavily on rice, wheat, and maize, contributing to biodiversity loss and rising non-communicable diseases.

• Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) like millets, tubers, and legumes are nutrient-rich and climate-resilient.

• Initiatives like Millet Missions are reviving agrobiodiversity through community-led efforts and traditional knowledge documentation.

• The emerging field of biodiversity science presents interdisciplinary opportunities for food security, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

• Biodiversity Wealth: India is one of only eight centres of global food-crop diversity and contains parts of four biodiversity hotspots.

• Dietary Shift Consequences: Over-dependence on global staple crops weakens food resilience and exacerbates health issues.

• Decline of Agrobiodiversity: Market-driven shift to cash crops like cassava and pepper has led to reduced cultivation of indigenous grains.

• Community-Based Solutions: M.S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) models in Kolli Hills and Odisha have empowered women farmers and enhanced millet value chains.

• Policy Initiatives: National millet push (Shree Anna Yojana) aims to mainstream NUS, yet wider inclusion and diversification is needed.

• Biohappiness Vision: Prof. M.S. Swaminathan advocated for an Evergreen Revolution rooted in biodiversity, sustainability, and nutrition security.

• Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS): Also called orphan or opportunity crops; these are traditional crops underrepresented in modern agriculture despite high nutritional and adaptive value.

• Biohappiness: A term that refers to deriving happiness from the sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity.

Mains Mock Question:

“Discuss the significance of Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) in enhancing India's food and nutritional security. How can biodiversity-based models contribute to sustainable rural livelihoods?”