Jhapa – Efforts have begun to conserve 115 varieties of rice in Jhapa. The Agricultural Development Farm in Chandradangi, under the Crop Development and Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation Center of the Department of Agriculture, has initiated a rice conservation program in the current fiscal year.
The conservation work has started by creating 115 plots, each measuring one square meter, on four kattha of land, according to Vinod Kumar Mandal, head of the Agricultural Development Farm. He noted that various native crop varieties in Nepal are gradually disappearing, which prompted the initiative to conserve rice varieties. This conservation effort is being conducted in collaboration with the Kanchan Biodiversity Conservation Development Committee in Jhapa. The varieties have been collected from various districts of Koshi and Madhesh provinces.
Among the 115 conserved varieties, only the "Kalonuniya" variety has been officially registered, while the rest are indigenous varieties, Mandal said.
Crop Development Officer Arjun Subedi explained that the conserved varieties will be preserved, and efforts will be made to select the best varieties for registration and listing.
Additionally, the farm is producing source seeds for varieties such as Swarna Sub-1, Ramdhan, Bahuguni-2, Hardinath-1, Hardinath-3, Hardinath-6, Chaite-5, and Sawa Mansuli Sub-1.
Some of the conserved varieties include Rudraksha, Jhumka Chameli, Karma, Bagar Anadi, Amulya Kalo Tude, Atute Sano, Andi Dhan, Seto Basmati Sano, Hapsha Rato, Budidai-03, Gaulgajar, Pachpanne Dhan, Lal Bachhi Dhan, Chhoti Basmati, Rato Sthaniya, Rato Bachhi Dhan, Diruwa Dhan, Kalo Nunia-01, Atte Dhan, Philippine Dhan, Shyamjira, Dhankute, Parewapakh, Basmati Rato Tude, Badal Dhan, Chulde, Lakil Sawa, Jorpal Basmati, Hodbachhi, Dhunmuniya, Anadi Seto, Jangali Mansuli, Sinduri, Bagjunge, Dosara, Sadharan Kalo Nunia, Ras Dhan, Vaman Chini, Hadifor, Rato Anadi, Jhinuwa, Video Anadi, Marsi Dhan, Sete Dhan, Kalo Tude Basmati, Kalo Nunia Thulo, Koipurba, Dudharaj, Borang, Nimoi, Chyangga, Ambardhvaj, Komal Dhan, Jharar Dhan, Apbhukte, Bhotange, Thulo Mansara, Kati, Hapsha, Anjana, Kalo Tulsi, Kharasri Dhan, Tilamukhi, Mansara, Seto Basmati, Nakkhisaro, Rambela, Rato Basmati, Pulingtar, Madhumala, Hidi, Samal Chauri, Sikichan, Tilki, Katar Khera, Anadi, Madhukar Lalchan, Kasturi, Ghyupuri, Rahimanuwa, Kalo Basmati (Junge), Chanachur Sano, Setosatha, Champasari, Hansaraj, Birimphul, Harinkera, Godra, Hidi, Belguthi, Ghyu Kumari, Kanakjir Basmati, Anadi Rato, Mithai, Bangladeshi, Kalo Nunia-10, Nakhisaro, Chamfe Dhan, Satha Dhan, Jarneli, Nyauli, Thapa Chini, Kalo/Rato Anadi, Nazir, Goriya Gauma Dhan, and Ranga Dhan.
