Assam's Borjuli wetland declared biodiversity heritage site, boosting wild rice conservation

New Delhi: A major milestone has been achieved in India's efforts to conserve wild rice genetic resources, with the Borjuli wetland in Assam's Sonitpur district officially notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site. The recognition is expected to strengthen the conservation of wild rice and support the development of climate-resilient agriculture.

The achievement comes under the project "In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur District of Assam," which has been under implementation since 2022. The project is funded by the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and is being carried out 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 recently briefed NRAA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar on the project's progress in the exploration, conservation and characterization of wild rice germplasm. During the meeting, the team informed that the Borjuli site has now received Biodiversity Heritage Site status from the National Biodiversity Authority, marking a significant step in safeguarding India's rich wild rice diversity.

Welcoming the development, Dr. Kumar said that wild rice species are a valuable source of genes that can help develop climate-resilient, high-yielding and nutritionally improved rice varieties. He stressed the importance of expanding similar conservation programmes for other crop wild relatives across the country to improve the resilience, sustainability and long-term food security of Indian agriculture.

The project focuses on conserving Oryza rufipogon, one of the wild ancestors of cultivated rice, which possesses traits such as tolerance to floods, drought, pests and diseases. Scientists believe these genetic resources will play a crucial role in future crop improvement programmes as climate change continues to pose challenges to agricultural production.

The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Pankaj Kumar Shah, Director (Agriculture and Horticulture), NRAA, and Dr. Anil Kumar Mishra, Technical Expert (Watershed Management), NRAA.