1. Improve Productivity through Participatory Breeding:

• Selective breeding of indigenous varieties (with farmer involvement) can improve yields without losing stress tolerance.
• Use modern breeding tools (e.g., marker-assisted selection) to retain climate resilience while enhancing productivity traits.

✅ 2. Agroecological Practices:

• Combine traditional knowledge with modern agroecology to maximize the potential of local varieties.
• Practices like intercropping, organic fertilization, and conservation agriculture can improve yields sustainably.

✅ 3. Diversified Farming Systems:

• Promote mixed farming that includes crops, livestock, and aquaculture to balance nutrition, risk, and income.
• Indigenous systems often support biodiversity, which enhances overall system resilience and resource use efficiency.

✅ 4. Value Addition and Market Access:

• Add value to indigenous products (e.g., specialty grains, native meats) through branding, certification (organic, fair trade), and local processing.
• Better market access can make farming more profitable even with moderate yields.

✅ 5. Policy and Research Support:

• Encourage government policies that fund research into indigenous species, provide subsidies or insurance, and support local seed banks.
• Invest in climate-smart infrastructure, like water harvesting, that complements resilient varieties.

✅ 6. Education and Capacity Building:

• Train farmers in climate-adaptive practices, integrated pest management, and efficient resource use.
• Support knowledge exchange between older generations and scientists to preserve and modernize traditional practices.

✅ 7. Integrate with National Food Strategies:

• Make indigenous crops and livestock part of national food security plans, especially in marginal and dry areas.
• Support urban agriculture using local crops to reduce food miles and increase resilience.

Conclusion: Instead of replacing indigenous species, we must enhance their potential through innovation, support systems, and sustainable practices. This way, we bridge the gap between resilience and productivity to achieve food self-sufficiency without compromising local biodiversity or cultural heritage.

1. Utilize modern breeding tools like speed breeding for high production in short time with the help of plant breeder who have expertise in that particular crop field

2. maintain fidelity of indigenous varieties by marker assisted selection for better results