Decline of the maize landrace cultivation in eastern Serbia

State of maize landraces in the eastern Serbia was assessed through a field study and interviews withfarmers to determine both presence and extent of the maize landrace utilization. Results indicated that theextent of maize landraces cultivation in this region has significantly diminished during the last few decades, aswell as that some maize types seem to have disappeared. The landrace cultivation was strongly related totraditional agricultural practices. Farmers claimed that the maize landraces were more resistant tounfavourable environmental conditions. Efforts to conserve the genetic diversity of maize landraces should bedirected to investments into small-scale farming.