Conservation for development: the relevance of indigenous rootcrop knowledge in Irian Jaya.
1996
Schneider J. | Yaku A.
Based on work conducted for the project "Preservation of sweet-potato biodiversity in Indonesia", this paper proposes a few conclusions, and discusses the significance of this research. The focus is on Irian Jaya where sweetpotato is a staple crop and cultivation has developed to high levels of sophistication. Beginning with a short overview of the components of sweet potato knowledge among local farmers, it is shown that many aspects of IK [indigenous knowledge] are rational and effective tools in crop management and the use of genetic variability. More specifically, selection for perceptual difference in varieties has been an important factor in the development of varietal diversity. Local communities need continuous access to genetic diversity for future use and development of their sweetpotato genetic resources. Different types of approach may be envisaged to achieve this "dynamic conservation", one of them being community-based conservation. Action research has been undertaken within project to look into the potential of local conservation and has brought some steps further in understanding of "on-farm conservation". The concluding section of the paper tries to evaluate the significance of the research in a wider political and institutional context, and looks at some policy implications for Irian Jaya.
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