Guwahati: A tiny 0.41-hectare wetland in Assam’s Sonitpur district, home to the wild ancestor of cultivated rice, has been declared as a national biodiversity conservation site, highlighting the state’s growing importance in safeguarding crop diversity, critical to future food security.Located in Borjuli village, the site harbours a viable population of Oryza rufipogon—the wild progenitor of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa). It has been notified as a biodiversity heritage site by the National Biodiversity Authority, under an in-situ conservation project, funded by the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) and implemented by the ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR), in collaboration with the Assam State Biodiversity Board.The site is considered unique because of the richness of its Oryza rufipogon population. However, the habitat and the species remain vulnerable to climate change and human activities.Oryza rufipogon is among the most extensively studied wild rice species. A perennial plant, it is commonly found in marshes and other aquatic habitats across eastern and southern Asia. It is photosensitive and flowers during short-day conditions, typically in November and December. Its seeds shatter soon after maturing, and the species is tolerant of flooding and acidic soils.According to the project authorities, conserving the species in situ is critical for allowing it to continue evolving and adapting to changing climatic conditions. They said preserving this genetic resource would benefit not only India but also global efforts to improve future rice varieties.The Assam govt declared the Borjuli wild rice habitat a Biodiversity Heritage Site in 2022. The latest recognition by the National Biodiversity Authority is expected to strengthen long-term conservation efforts for this unique genetic resource.Launched in 2022, the conservation project focuses on the in-situ protection and management of the wild rice population, enabling the species to continue evolving naturally in its habitat while preserving its genetic diversity for future crop improvement.According to an official statement, Dr Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of the NRAA, said wild rice species are an invaluable source of genes for developing climate-resilient, high-yielding and nutritionally superior rice varieties. He called for similar conservation initiatives for other crop wild relatives across the country to enhance the resilience, sustainability and long-term food security of Indian agriculture.
