Scientists discover green rice in Chattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is traditionally known as the Rice Bowl of India as over 20,000 rice varieties have been found here

Chhattisgarh has discovered a new variety of rice that is light green in colour.
 

Though the development is at an early stage, scientists in the state have started scientific study of the variety. Only after conducting a detailed research, the scientists will come out with the character of the seed.
 

“The seed discovered is rare and is light green in colour,” A K Sarawgi, head of department of genetics and breeding in Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, told Business Standard. The university is conduction an in-depth study of the variety, he added.
 

The seed sample was provided to the university by farmers from Dhamtari and Durg districts. The farmers had stocked the sample as the variety was discovered far back and the farmers had even taken the crop.
 

Based on the sample, the university scientists were conducting the study. According to Sarawgi, the result will provide the additional characters of the variety that include its medical benefits, crop economy.
 

This year, farmers were given sample seed for multiplying. The scientists were waiting for the harvest that would enable them to further study the variety's character. More varieties of paddy seeds were expected to come out in the state.
 

Chhattisgarh is traditionally known as the Rice Bowl of India. Over 20,000 rice varieties have been recorded in the region. These are a result of centuries of rice farming through selection and adaptation to a variety of soil, water and micro-ecosystems conditions including predators.
 

According to experts, the varieties were extinct following market forces promoting high-yielding varieties and synthetic fertilizer and pesticide-based cropping.