Question 13 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Environment

Question

The FAO accords the status of 'Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)' to traditional agricultural systems. What is the overall goal of this initiative?
1. To provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities of identified GIAHS so as to greatly enhance their agricultural productivity.
2. To identify and safeguard eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems of the local communities.
3. To provide Geographical Indication status to all the varieties of agricultural produce in such identified GIAHS.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 only

Strategy: Analyze the name 'Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System' to understand its core purpose of preservation. Eliminate statement 1 because its focus on 'modern technology' contradicts the concept of 'heritage.' Eliminate statement 3 because 'Geographical Indication' is a specific legal tool, not the overall goal of the initiative. Select statement 2 as it correctly aligns with the purpose of safeguarding traditional farm practices, landscapes, biodiversity, and knowledge systems.

Key Info: **Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)**
- **Initiator:** Launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 2002 during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.
- **Purpose:** Aims to identify, support, and safeguard remarkable traditional agricultural systems and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity, and knowledge systems. These systems are recognized as living, evolving forms of human-environment interaction that are vital for food security and sustainable development.
- **Core Principles:** Emphasizes the dynamic conservation and adaptive management of agricultural biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge systems, fostering the co-evolution of human communities and their environment.
- **Key Pillars:** Focuses on five pillars: (i) Food and Livelihood Security; (ii) Agrobiodiversity; (iii) Local and Traditional Knowledge Systems; (iv) Cultures, Value Systems and Social Organizations; and (v) Landscapes and Seascape Features.
- **Activities:** Promotes dynamic conservation through recognition, capacity building, and policy support. It aims to empower local communities to manage these systems sustainably, rather than replacing traditional methods with modern technology for enhanced productivity.
- **Examples in India:** Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System (Kerala), Koraput Traditional Agriculture (Odisha), Pampore Saffron Heritage (Jammu & Kashmir), and Traditional Changthang (Ladakh).

**Geographical Indication (GI) Status**
- **Definition:** A sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. It is a form of intellectual property right.
- **Legal Framework:** In India, it is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. The GI Registry, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, administers it.
- **Purpose:** Protects the name of specific products that have unique characteristics due to their geographical origin and traditional production methods, preventing unauthorized use of the GI by others.
- **Relation to GIAHS:** While products originating from GIAHS sites may qualify for GI status due to their traditional nature and unique qualities, providing GI status to all varieties of agricultural produce is not the primary or overall goal of the GIAHS initiative. GIAHS focuses on the holistic preservation of the agricultural system and its heritage, while GI is a specific legal tool for protecting products.

Answer

Option A: 1 and 3 only

Answer

Option C: 2 and 3 only

Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3