Enviro News Asia, New Delhi — India has reached a major milestone in safeguarding its wild rice genetic resources after the Borjuli site in Assam’s Sonitpur district was officially designated as a Biodiversity Heritage Site, strengthening national efforts to conserve crop diversity and promote climate-resilient agriculture.
The achievement comes under the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA)-funded project, “In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur District of Assam,” which 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 NRAA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar on the project’s progress in exploring, conserving, and characterizing wild rice germplasm. During the meeting, the researchers announced that the Borjuli conservation site had been formally recognized by the National Biodiversity Authority as a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
The designation represents a significant step toward protecting India’s rich diversity of wild rice species while supporting the development of agricultural systems capable of adapting to climate change.
Commending the project’s achievements, Dr. Kumar emphasized the strategic importance of conserving wild crop relatives, describing wild rice species as an invaluable genetic resource for developing climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutritionally improved rice varieties.
He also called for similar conservation initiatives to be expanded to other crop wild relatives across India, noting that preserving genetic diversity is essential for strengthening agricultural resilience, promoting sustainable farming systems, and ensuring the country’s long-term food security.
The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Pankaj Kumar Shah, Director (Agriculture and Horticulture) at the NRAA, and Dr. Anil Kumar Mishra, Technical Expert for Watershed Management at the authority.
The Borjuli site’s recognition reinforces India’s commitment to conserving agricultural biodiversity while enhancing the genetic resources needed to address future challenges posed by climate change, emerging pests and diseases, and increasing food demand. (*)
