Farmers’ Perception Regarding Resilience of Kharchia Wheat Land Race in Saline and Resource-Constrained Agro-Ecosystems of Arid India
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Authors
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Dheeraj Singh
ICAR- Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Division of Integrated Farming Systems, Jodhpur-342 003, India
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Chandan Kumar
ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pali-Marwar-306 401, India
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A Dudi
ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pali-Marwar-306 401, India
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A S Tetarwal
ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pali-Marwar-306 401, India
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B R Kuri
ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pali-Marwar-306 401, India
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R K Singh
ICAR-Headquarter, New Delhi, India
Keywords:
Salinity tolerance, On-farm conservation, Sustainable agriculture, Farmers’ perception, Indigenous varietiesAbstract
The study examines the trend of continued cultivation and conservation of Kharchia wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a salt-tolerant landrace grown in the saline belt of Pali district, Rajasthan, India. Despite the availability of improved wheat varieties, an overwhelming majority of farmers (over 90%) perceive Kharchia wheat as indispensable under harsh agro-ecological conditions characterized by saline soils, saline groundwater, high temperatures, limited irrigation, good fodder yield, resistance to storage pests and low input requirements. In addition to agronomic resilience, Kharchia wheat is highly valued for its superior flour quality, taste, water-absorption capacity, shelf life of chapatis, and suitability for traditional dishes such as Baati, Churma, and Dalia. The study found little evidence of varietal replacement or genetic erosion in the area. Most farmers reported continued or even expanding cultivation of Kharchia wheat, especially as soil and water salinity increased. Although improved varieties may offer higher yields under favourable irrigated conditions, they often fail in saline and resource-poor environments. Farmers’ continued reliance on Kharchia wheat reflects rational, risk-averse decision-making aimed at ensuring livelihood security, reducing dependence on external seed markets, and minimizing production costs. Beyond its local importance, Kharchia wheat has contributed significantly to formal breeding programs and has been used as donor material to develop salt-tolerant varieties, including Kharchia 65, KRL 1-4, KRL 19, and KRL 39. Its registration with the ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, further underscores its strategic value. The findings emphasize that effective on-farm conservation policies must incorporate farmers’ perceptions, traditional knowledge and socio-ecological realities. In the face of climate change, strengthening indigenous varieties and biocultural systems is essential for sustaining agricultural resilience, especially in marginal and saline agro-ecosystems.
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