JHAPA, Nov 24: Eighty-one varieties of paddy have been produced in a single block of field in Jhapa.

The Jhapa-based Biological Diversity Conservation and Development Committee has been successful in cultivating such a wider variety of rice in an area spanning two kattha (one kattha is equivalent to 3645 sq. ft) of leased land at local Chandradangi of Shivasatakshi Municipality-7.  

According to committee chair Dilli Paudel, the seeds of indigenous varieties of paddy were collected from different parts of the country. 

"We have realized that seeds of local varieties of paddy are disappearing due to the dominance of hybrid seeds and we have geared up for their preservation," he said. 

The Committee has been successful in producing the endangered varieties of indigenous paddy including 'Kalo Nuniya'. 

The initiative has garnered attention from students in agricultural studies and the general public, who are visiting the paddy field to witness the simultaneous cultivation of diverse rice varieties. 

 Marsi rice, a  typical product of Jumla,  as well as the Dudhraj variety of rice found in Ilam in east Nepal are featured in the land plot named the 'exhibition block'. Basmati Rato, Basmati Pahelo, and Tunde varieties have also been produced. 

Among the rice varieties cultivated there include Katarkhera, Kalo Tunde Basmati, Jangali Mansuli, Rudrakshya, Junge Kalo Basmati, Naajir, Rato Bachchhi, Chulthe, Belguthi, Rato Hapsa, Hodbachchhi, Seto Basmati, Hadiphor, Bhotange, Champasari, Sano Chanachur, Anadi, Dhankute, Lalbachchhi, Birimphool, Chhoti Basmati, Rato Basmati, Rato Anadi, Godara, Ambardhwaj, Diruwa, Badaldhan, Anadi Seto, Jhahar Dhaan, Samal Chauri, Komal Dhaan, Gauma Dhaan, Kanakjir Basmati, Kalo Rato Anadi, Jirasari, Atte, Ranga Dhaan, Dudhraj, Rasdhaan, Marsi, Andi Dhaan, Anadi Rato, Hansaraj, Rato Sthaniya, Tilki, Rato Tunde Basmati, Shyamjira, Ghiukumari, Dosara, Thulo Manasara, Sikichan, Rambela, Aapajhutte, Jarneli and Ghiupuri.

Likewise, the other varieties of rice grown there are Jhinuwa, Midiya Anadi, Thapachini, Sete Dhaan, Kalo Nuniya Thulo, Sadharan Kalo Nuniya, Kalo Nuniya-1, Kalo Nuniya-10, Harinaker, Parewa Pwankh, Baman Chini, Madhumala, Madhukar, Pulingtar, Kalo Trilasi, Kasturi, Budhidain-3, Bangladeshi, Anamol 55, Anamol Kalo Tunde and Bagh Junge. 

The indigenous rice varieties have been collected from throughout the country with the support of a non-governmental organization called Local Initiatives for Bio-diversity Research and Development (LI-BiRD), Committee facilitator Januka Magar said.

She said the 81 varieties of rice have been produced for demonstration to preserve the indigenous varieties of paddy and attract the farmers towards cultivating these varieties.

The Committee was established in 2065 BS and the seed bank of the indigenous varieties was set up at Shivasatakshi, Ward No 7 in Jhapa a year after that, according to Magar. The rice grown in the plot would be harvested and stored in the seed bank before being distributed to the interested farmers for cultivation.

The seed bank has preserved a wide variety of seeds of various species of crops, pulses and vegetables including two types of maize, three types of millet, two types of barely, eight types of beans, thirteen types of cowpeas, five types of pumpkins, five types of bottle gourd, three types of sponge gourd, one type of bitter gourd, one type of broad beans, two types of Malabar spinach and one type of mustard.

Altogether 1,070 farmers of ward no 6 and 7 of Sivasatakshi municipality have been roped in the Committee dividing them in 22 groups so far.

They have been availing seeds of various crops and climbing vegetables plants from the seeds bank. The 75 metric tonnes of crops being procured by the farmers annually have been processed and examined their germination capacity and being sold to other farmers at a concessional price, informed facilitator Magar.

Deputy Mayor of Sivasatakshi municipality, Narmaya Karki, said that the Committee has been preserving local crops on the verge of extinction and thereby contributing to the agriculture sector of the country.

The municipality has been supporting the Community's creative pursuits, said Deputy Mayor Karki.

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