Maintenance of agricultural diversity in rural settlements – a case study in Moji-Mirim, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

This paper investigated whether farmers, when established in rural settlements, keep some traditional features with regard to crops diversity and circulation of planting material. Its aims were to make an ethnobotanical survey of species and varieties and analyze the dinamics of seeds and propagules circulation. A total of 139 varieties of food crops (55 species/28 families) were found, being 87% of them intended for self-consumption; 54% of varieties come from Minas Gerais, home state of most respondents. The number of varieties grown per household ranged from 17 to 54. The informal and free circulation of planting material is the most important way of acquisition. The circulation network is very active, showing a potential for the management of crops diversity, with emphasis on the contribution of settlers to the maintenance and valorization of traditional varieties.

Keywords

• Agro-biodiversity
• Circulation of seeds and propagules
• Rural settlement
• Subsistence agriculture