The Economics of Managing Crop Diversity On-farm Case studies from the Genetic Resources Policy Initiative

The purpose of this book is to assess a variety of economic issues as they relate to agro-biodiversity and show how addressing these issues can assist in agro-biodiversity policy-making. This is illustrated using empirical data from some of the countries (Ethiopia, Nepal and Zambia) which are part of the Genetic Resources Policy Initiative. The empirical chapters apply the relevant economic methods, including regression analysis, choice experiments, hedonic pricing, contingent valuation and farm business income analysis. The authors discuss the economics of managing crop diversity on-farm in the context of crop variety attribute preferences, farmers' perception of agro-biodiversity loss, and value addition and marketing of the products of traditional crop varieties. The case studies include detailed analysis of traditional varieties of groundnut, maize, rice, sorghum, and teff. The results are relevant not only to GRPI countries but also to other countries concerned with the sustainable utilization of these resources. Overall, the studies illustrate how genetic resources issues can be integrated into rural development interventions.

Preface List of Contributors Part I: Setting the Scene 1. Introduction: Setting the Scene for GRPI Economics Part II: Variety Trait Preferences and On-Farm Conservation Policy 2. Economic Analysis of Ethiopian Farmers' Preferences for Crop Variety Attributes: A Choice Experiment Approach 3. Valuation of Rice Diversity in Nepal: A Trait-based Approach 4. Farmers' Perceptions on Replacement and Loss of Traditional Crop Varieties: Examples from Ethiopia and Implications Part III: Market Value Chains, Commercialization and On-farm Conservation Policy 5. Consumers' Attribute Preferences and Traders' Challenges Affecting the Use of Local Maize and Groundnut Varieties in Lusaka: Implications for Crop Diversity Policy 6. Commercialization and Market Linkages for Promoting the Use of Local Rice Varieties: A Nepalese Case Study Part IV: Conclusions and Outlook 7. Findings, Conclusions, Implications and Outlook Index

Edilegnaw Wale is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics, School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Adam G. Drucker is a Senior Economist at Bioversity International, Rome, Italy. Kerstin K. Zander is a Research Fellow in the School for Environmental Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia.