NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has achieved a significant milestone in the conservation of India's wild rice genetic resources through its funded project titled "In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur District of Assam." The project has been implemented since 2022 by the ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR), New Delhi, in collaboration with the Assam State Biodiversity Board.
A team of scientists from ICAR-NBPGR briefed Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, IAS, Chief Executive Officer of NRAA, on the project's achievements in the exploration, conservation, and characterization of wild rice germplasm. The team reported that the Borjuli site in Sonitpur district of Assam, identified under the project, has been officially notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site by the National Biodiversity Authority. This recognition marks a major step toward conserving India's rich wild rice diversity and strengthening climate-resilient agriculture.
Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar commended the research team's efforts, stating that wild rice species are an invaluable source of genes for developing climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutritionally superior rice varieties. He emphasized the need to replicate similar conservation initiatives for other crop wild relatives across the country to enhance the resilience, sustainability, and long-term food security of Indian agriculture. The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Pankaj Kumar Shah, Director (Agriculture & Horticulture), NRAA, and Dr. Anil Kumar Mishra, Technical Expert (Watershed Management), NRAA.