Status, changing landscape and farmer’s criteria for continuity of Paddy (Oryza sativa) landraces in upland ecosystem like Jharkhand, India: from conservation perspective

Abstract Present study involved paddy landraces naturalized widely across Jharkhand, India with altitude range from 06 meter from sea level (Sahibganj, Jharkhand, India) to 768 m (Garhwa, Jharkhand, India). These landraces found naturalized to diverse niche areas including flat to slopy upland, lowland, rivulet edge, pond/dam basin, swampy areas with wide altitude, edaphic and landscape ranges. Landraces from iron and aluminum ore (West Singhbhum, Jharkhand, India and East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, India) as well as Mica (Giridih, Jharkhand, India and Koderma, Jharkhand, India) rich regions are potential source for extraordinary mineral tolerance and bioaccumulations. Collection of the maximum paddy landraces from Central North East Plateau (CNEP) sub-zone well supplemented with complementarity analysis. These habitats with ecologically stressful conditions owing to limitations in soil pH, soil texture and other factors considered as a potential site for evolution of unique traditional varieties. However, the resource base found critically eroded from 2005 to 2021 particularly from Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Chatra, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Koderma, Deoghar and Palamu. The Maximum landrace erosion witnessed in CNEP sub zone. While continued cultivation of landraces in steeper landscape of both South Plateau sub-zone and South Eastern Plateau sub-zone underscored their value in risk aversion under a challenged environmental condition. Selection criteria analysis of continued paddy landraces demonstrated farmers preference for practically useful traits those influencing livelihood security in local context. These traits are key for mainstreaming registered landraces into production chain under changed climatic conditions.