On-farm management of Agrobiodiversity in the Western Ghats, the Biodiversity hotspot and a UN - accredited World Heritage Centre has become dlfficult due to an array of reasons: Specifically in rice-paddy system, the conversion of rice fields and dwindling diverslty
of rice land races are found to be the biggest challenges. This case study describes the case of Wayanad District of Kerala, India, where concentrated efforts have been laid down to study,device and implement Agrobiodiversity management centered on rice-paddy. Seeds are the inevitable part of Agrobiodiversity, the source of life and the foundation of our existence. The selection and growing of seeds performed by our forefathers have contributed to the ccnservatlon of immense number of land races that satisfy our different needs. This case study illustrates a movement that has promoted conservation of seeds of indigenous varieties of small-holders' family farms in Wayanad District of Kerala. Effort has been made to integrate Conservation issues, Cultivation knowledge, Consumption awareness and Commercial aspects into one overarching policy strategy.