Lok Sabha Question No. 2494 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-09
Subject: Promote Indigenous Varieties of Rice
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Jasbir Singh Gill

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2494

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 09/03/2021

## PROMOTE INDIGENOUS VARIETIES OF RICE

## 2494.  SHRI JASBIR SINGH GILL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated any plan or scheme to promote indigenous varieties of rice and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  some  indigenous  varieties  of  rice  have  low glycemic index (GI) and are beneficial for diabetics and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote such varieties of rice;
- (d) whether the Government has imposed any charge for GI certification and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  listed  indigenous  varieties  of  rice  that  are  currently being grown in India; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)

- Indigenous  varieties  of  rice  are  being  promoted  through  varieties  programmes.  574 indigenous varieties of rice have been propagated and tested at more than 10,000 farmers' fields, involving state agricultural universities, KVKs and NGOs through a project entitled 'Mainstreaming Agricultural biodiversity conservation and utilization of  the  agriculture sector  to  ensure  ecosystem  services  and  reduce  vulnerability'.    Nutritional  profiling  of 300  selected  rice  varieties  has  been  done  for  market  linkage  and  better  price  to  the farmers.  Farmers  are  also  being  trained  on  conservation,  improvement  and  use  of traditional/ indigenous varieties through participatory variety selection. Further for access to  seeds  of  these  indigenous  varieties,  community  seed  banks  have  been  established  at

community level involving KVKs and Self Help Groups in remote and tribal areas of the country and a total of 26 community seed banks conserving >4000 native landraces and farmers'  varieties  of  different  food  crops  including  rice  have  been  strengthened  and established.

- Communities and farmers conserving and promoting indigenous rice varieties have been conferred  with  Genome  Savour  awards  by  Protection  of  Plant  Varieties  Protection  and Farmers'  Rights  Authority  (PPV&FRA)  and  following  awards  have  been  given  since 2009-10:
- a. Plant Genome Saviour Community Award (Rs. 10 lakh each ): 13
- b. Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Rewards (Rs. 1.5 lakhs each): 12
- c. Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Recognitions (Rs. 1.0 lakh each): 19
- Rice  varieties  are  also  being  promoted  under  National  Food  Security  Mission  in  193 districts  of  24  states  and  Union  Territory.  Similarly, 'Bringing  Green  Revolution  to Eastern India (BGREI)' a sub scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana  is implemented in  seven  Eastern  States  viz.,  Assam,  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh,  Jharkhand,  Odisha,  Eastern Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to address the constraints limiting the productivity of 'rice based cropping systems' in Eastern India.

(b) & (c): Yes, five rice varieties viz., Lalat and Improved Lalat (GI value: 54) as low GI and Swarna, Sambha Mahsuri and Shaktiman (GI value <60) as intermediate GI have been identified and all these varieties are in seed chain and are being cultivated by the farmers.

- (d) There is no certification for GI (Glycemic Index) in rice.

(e) & (f): Yes, the details of indigenous rice varieties/ germplasm listed are as under:

Total rice germplasm conserved at National Gene Bank: 1,09,834 including traditional varieties (6,707), land races (38400) and varieties released and notified (1190).

Varieties  registered  with  PPV&FRA: Total  2047  varieties  have  been  registered  which include 1645 farmers varieties.

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