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6,000-year-old species of rice
discovered in Meghalaya
http://www.financia
lexpress. com/news/ 6-000yearold- species-of- rice-discovered- in-meghalaya/
409467/0
Shillong, Jan 11: Meghalaya Mission for Indigenous Knowledge has found a 6000-year-old
traditional species of rice in the Garo hills of the state.
This biological diversity is now an important genetic store for rice worldwide.
Mira Nair's film - Still, the Children are Here - told exclusively through
the voices of the Garos, follows two extended families in the village Sandolpara,
as they grapple with survival and change in this native community. Elders
say they are poorer today. "Even though we reap the same grain as the
grandmothers, we are poorer," they say.
In Sandolpara, 6,000-year-old species of rice are still grown. Women are the
caretakers of these varieties of rice. They select the right varieties for
cultivation and handle processing and storage of rice. Men help in cultivation
and manage the fields. "These hardy strains of rice must be protected
and should not be contaminated by any hybrids or genetically modified (GM)
crops," the document paper of the Meghalaya Mission for Indigenous Knowledge
noted.
The draft document also pleaded that the government should provide subsidies
to farmers for growing these traditional varieties, so that the traditional
rice varieties are available to consumers at cheaper rates and can compete
with already-subsidised rice from other parts of the country.
The vice chancellor of the Shillong-based North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU),
Pramod Tandon said, "Our major objective is to conserve and conduct research
in traditional knowledge and to improve the socio-economic conditions of the
people." He said that the important gene centre located in the campus
had not been given due consideration by the Union government, which funds
this university. The gene bank contains rich depositories of traditional rice
and citrus among other rare plants.
He mentioned water lily as a rare species now found only in Meghalaya. Earlier,
some species of water lily were found in Siberia, Russia, though the climatic
conditions in Meghalaya and Siberia vary to a large extent. "We have
taken up the difficult job of micro-propagation of the water lily in a farmer's
pond in Smit village," he said. The seeds of the water lily are eaten
by the local people.
Among other rare plants are Dancing Girl, Holly Tree and Mishmi Getta. Dancing
Girl varieties are under the women's empowerment scheme of the department
of biotechnology (DBT). "Unplanned urbanisation, mining and quarrying
have destroyed the biodiversity and ecology of the region, alleged Tandon.
He disclosed that the Mishmi Getta was illegally exported to China for its
medicinal value and how the Italians once indulged in biopiracy of the Texas
Bacata, the extracts of which are used to cure breast cancer. The Khasiana
variety of the Picher plant is grown in nitrogen deficient land in the state.
Out of 13,000 orchid varieties, 560 alone are found in north-eastern India.
The Guwahati-based North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd has documented
the methods of propagation and the use of several aromatic and medicinal plants
like Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth), Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus
Jowitt), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus Steud Wats), Vetiver (Vetiveria
zizanioides Linn), Sugandhmantri (Homalo,ena aromatica Schott), Agar (Aquilaria
agallocha Roxb), Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentine Benth ex Kur), Pipali (Piper
longum Linn), Amlakhi (Emblica officinalis Gaertn), Hilikha (Terminalia chebula
Retz), Bhomora (terminalia belerica), Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna Wight and
Arn). Among other crops of economic importance are Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni-Nemsi,
Vanilla planifolia Andrews and Brahmi or Bacopa monnieri (L) Wetts.
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Living Farms is an organization of concerned individuals opposed to agrochemical
TNCs, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and chemical pesticides. It promotes
and advocates for ecological agriculture and pushes for genuine agrarian reform
as the foundation of food security & sovereignty and social justice. Living
Farms works with farmers’ organizations and networks with NGOs, support institutions,
scientists, health workers/professiona ls, environmentalists, and academics