Role of Genetic Resources of Forages in the Present Changing Climatic Scenario

Agricultural biodiversity is vital to an ecosystem approach; it enhances soil fertility, increases productivity and safeguards the crops and livestock. Genetic resources of forages have an important role to prevent disaster caused by climate change, following the measures of crop diversification, use of drought-tolerant crops, use of resistant cultivars and effective management of pest or disease outbreak by promoting regional/localised planning and initiative. The prevailing climate change scenario creates the need for a broader vision of risk management and responding to climate change. Plant genetic resources provide a basis for adaptation, to cope with the impact of climate change on agriculture and livestock production. There is a need to act at global, regional, national and local levels. The real challenge, however, will have to be handled in India by quick and focussed adaptation strategies for reducing susceptibilities, strengthening resilience and consolidating the overcoming ability of the farming communities. Building resilience in agro-ecological system and farming communities and improving adaptive capacity by building strong genetic resource base of different forage crops, i.e. contingent crops like fodder cereals, legumes and grasses, germplasm introduction in search for potential forage/fodder crop across the globe and sustainable uses of forage genetic resources are the way to cope. The chapter deals with current status of forage germplasm and the recent fodder varieties. The rationale of this chapter is to consider the status of forage genetic resources in India and their needs for enhancing agriculture entangled with livestock farming; emphasis has been to create alertness among the workers involved in forage crop improvement and works to coordinate to meet out the national food security with reference to changing climate.