Over a dozen indigenous rice varieties vanishing in Manipur

NE Now
IMPHAL, Oct 11 : Indigenous rice varieties numbering more than a dozen have reportedly vanished from Manipur in the last 15 years.
All Manipur Trained Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Promoters Consortium (AMAPCON) president Potshangbam Devkanta said this here on Friday.
The indigenous rice varieties (seeds) which are said to have vanished from the State as per the records maintained by Devkanta are Chakhaoarongbi, Changli, Dular, Jessaria, Koimurali, Konjengphou, Kabo Chakhao, Huikapchakhao, Langmenti, Langmanbi, Langphou Phoungang, Mahulong, Naranphou, Phouren Tujombi, Phoudum Mubi, Phouren Phoudongba, Pangban, Singhara, Sagolyangba, Tumai Angouba and Tumai Nakuppi.
Devkanta who won prestigious plant genome savior farmer award in 2012 for the first time from North East, said that many indigenous rice varieties grow in the region since time immemorial because of the State’s micro-climatic conditions.
“For instance we cannot grow some of the rice varieties which grow well in hills when we plant in the valley areas as we cannot grow Shirui Lily, the State flower, in the valley due to their different climatic conditions,” Devkanta told Northeast Now.
Shirui Lily grows in the hill range of Shirui peak in Manipur’s Ukhrul district.
Despite India being one of world’s biggest producers of rice, little is known about the rich variety of rice that is grown across the country.
Manipur, being a part of the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot, is a major source for a wide variety of plants and rice varieties which can be grown in other parts.
AMAPCON secretary general RK Ronendro said they’ve registered 272 different rice varieties including Chak-hao, black aromatic rice varieties for protection of plants varieties and farmers rights (PPV & FRA).
Besides they have collected and submitted around 100 seed samples for conducting the grow-out test for identification of uniformity and stability (under PPV & FRA).
The functionary of AMAPCON who had been conserving more than 300 indigenous seeds of rice, medicinal and aromatic plants, further said more than 70 different rice varieties in the fields apart from storing around 150 different indigenous rice seeds are being grown.
However, the plant products are being lost at an alarming rate before discovery due to lack of knowledge, development and attention, Ronendro said.
Considering the alarming situation and also to conserve indigenous seed varieties besides taking up steps to help secure genetic diversity for climate resilience, the first ever National Indigenous Seed Festival 2019 in North East will be held at Central Agricultural University at Iroishemba in Imphal from Saturday.
The main objective of the festival is to exhibit different types of native indigenous seeds, which were earlier used before the modernization of agriculture, said an organiser.