Significant Progress in Wild Rice Conservation in India

The National Rainfed Area Authority has made significant strides in conserving wild rice genetic resources in India through a project in Assam. This initiative, which began in 2022, aims to protect Oryza rufipogon and has been recognized as a major step towards enhancing biodiversity and climate-resilient agriculture. The project has successfully designated a site in Sonitpur as a Biodiversity Heritage Site, showcasing the importance of wild rice in developing superior rice varieties. The CEO of NRAA emphasized the need for similar conservation efforts across the country to ensure long-term food security and sustainability in agriculture. Learn more about this vital initiative and its implications for India's agricultural future.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 2, 2026, 12:36 IST

Milestone in Wild Rice Conservation

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New Delhi, July 2: The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has reached a notable achievement in the preservation of India's wild rice genetic resources. This was revealed on Thursday, highlighting a project focused on safeguarding wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Assam.

The ministry emphasized that this recognition is a crucial advancement in the effort to conserve the diverse wild rice varieties of India and to bolster climate-resilient agricultural practices.

Since 2022, the project titled 'In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur District of Assam' has been executed by the ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) in partnership with the Assam State Biodiversity Board.

During a briefing, scientists from ICAR-NBPGR updated NRAA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chandra Shekhar Kumar on the project's progress in exploring, conserving, and characterizing wild rice germplasm.

They informed the CEO that the Borjuli site in Sonitpur district has been designated as a Biodiversity Heritage Site by the National Biodiversity Authority.

Kumar praised the research team's efforts, noting that wild rice species are crucial for developing climate-resilient, high-yield, and nutritionally enhanced rice varieties.

He also highlighted the importance of implementing similar conservation projects for other wild relatives of crops across India to improve resilience, sustainability, and long-term food security in agriculture.

The meeting was coordinated by Pankaj Kumar Shah, Director (Agriculture and Horticulture) at NRAA, along with Anil Kumar Mishra, Technical Expert (Watershed Management) at NRAA.

The ministry reiterated that this initiative underscores the government's ongoing commitment to conserving plant genetic resources and biodiversity, which are essential for sustainable agriculture and enhancing food security amid climate change challenges.