The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, achieved a significant milestone in the conservation of India's wild rice genetic resources through its funded project titled "In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur District of Assam."
The project 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 Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, IAS, CEO of NRAA, on the project's achievements.
The Borjuli site in Sonitpur district of Assam has been notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site by the National Biodiversity Authority. This recognition aids in preserving wild rice diversity and bolstering climate-resilient agriculture.
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