The conservation of crop and varietal diversity, which is an important component of agrobiodiversity, constitutes an important objective of sustainable agricultural development. Although there is an increasing number of scientific studies that have analysed the current state of crop and varietal diversity in Africa and identified trends, there are major contradictions as to whether diversity is being conserved or whether there are reasons for serious concern about a loss of this diversity due to the increasing predominance of a limited number of major crops and varieties. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the status and patterns of crop and genetic diversity, using eight villages in selected regions of Burkina Faso and Ghana as case studies. The study used a mixed methods approach, combining a survey of 320 respondents with qualitative research methods, including focus group discussions, timelines, matrix scoring and four-square analysis, to identify the status and trends in crop and varietal diversity and examine the factors that help to explain the trends observed. Although there is some variation in the trends in crop and varietal diversity, the results indicate that -unlike often believed- the number of crops and varieties cultivated has increased in recent years, mainly due to socio-economic factors such as market demand, yield, market value, irrigation schemes, migration and government initiatives. The relatively high levels of crop diversity are also indicated by Shannon diversity indices of 1.303 and 1.596 in Burkina Faso and Ghana, respectively. The data suggest that certain crops, including bambara groundnut, sorghum, and millet, are cultivated not only for their economic benefits but also for their cultural significance. The findings from our case study villages show that “not all is lost” and that crop and varietal diversity is increasing in some parts of Africa – while it is declining in other parts. Moving forward, the findings indicate that policymakers and stakeholders can enhance the conservation of crop and varietal diversity by leveraging the identified economic drivers and cultural factors. Incorporating farmers’ preferences and values into policy frameworks is crucial to align conservation efforts with the economic incentives and practical realities of agricultural production.

Published as Hohenheim Working Papers on Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development Nr. 025-2024.