In the semi-arid region of Brazil, the management of the biodiversity is the main pillar of sustainable family farming. In this area, Landraces often called traditional or local varieties, are maintained in a on farm system, and contain the genetic diversity used for the generation of new and improved crop varieties, and are the basis for scientific plant breeding. Environmental, biological, socio-cultural, economic and policy factors influence a farmer’s decision to and replace or maintain a particular variety at any given time.
On-farm crop diversity provides means for adapting crops to meet rapidly changing climatic conditions, with their diverse effects on the magnitude and frequency of both biotic and abiotic stresses. Efforts have to be made by research and development professionals to increase farmers’ participation in on-farm assessment and ion of materials to ensure appropriate materials reach farmers.
The researchers realize, so, participatory breeding, which is a component of the management of genetic diversity, and has, essentially, the systematic inclusion of the knowledge, skills, experiences, practices and preferences of farmers in the crop institutional programs.
Traits in Landraces that have been suggested as pro-poor traits include adaptation to marginal growing environments (drought tolerant, shade tolerant, cold tolerant, disease and pest tolerant, production under low-fertility regime and production under submerged or deep water. A pro-poor trait has three characteristics: (1) it can be used by poor farmers; (2) it does not require costly external inputs; and (3) it is relatively simple to use and maintain.
Consolidating farmers role in plant breeding will provide certain rights to the farmers to save, use, sow, re-sow, exchange, share or sell their farm produce, support on-farm conservation process and prepare communities to cope with changing situations.
This will not only increase chances of maintenance of Landraces on-farm, but will also contribute positively to food security and maintenance of useful crop diversity.

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