Wangbal Rice Research Station on the verge of extinction
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Gyanand Naorem

Kakching, July 22 2013: Reeling under the apathy of the State Government, the Rice Research Station at Wangbal, which was set up in 1961 by State Agriculture Department with the objective of enhancing productivity of indigenous paddy varieties of the State, is on the verge of extinction today.

Agricultural scientists started the breeding programme at this Rice Research Station from the year 1970 .

They were able to produce high yielding varieties of paddy plants which were also resistant to diseases, an official of Agriculture Department said.

The negligence of the State Government for the past 15 years has resulted to the loss of several indigenous varieties of paddy which are tasty as well as productive.

Wangbal Rice Research Station on the verge of extinction

Many other varieties such as Phoudum (Kakching Phou), Moirang Phou, Phouren, Tumai, Taothabi and Chakhao are also diminishing from the State.

In the past, the agricultural scientists conducted several researches to produce hybrid varieties of paddy by cross-breeding of indigenous varieties.

However, the State Government seems to be allergic in research works now.

The total area of Wangbal Rice Research Station is about 50 acres, but the State Government has given 20 acres of its land area to Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Thoubal.

The Station is now in a deformed state.

The Research Station is now running for namesake without necessary equipments and funds.

The apathy of the State Government has rendered this Station useless to the people.

Wangbal Rice Research Centre first produced a hybrid paddy variety known as Punshi or KD-619 in the year 1980 and then another variety KD-621 was also produced shortly after.

The Station further produced Leima Phou (KD-263) and Akut Phou (KD-1419) in 1990, Sana Phou (KD-2762) and Ereima Phou (KD-7920) in 1999, and Gin Phou (KD-528) and Paari Phou (R-321) in 2006 .

The scientists at this Station have to depend on ICAR, Lamphelpat for equipments required in research.

The Stations has lost all its documents in a major fire in 2000 .

The only machinery left at the Station is a tractor.

A progressive farmer of Kakching told Hueiyen Lanpao that Wangbal Rice Research Station should maintain its own website and make available its research works to the farmers online.

Unfortunately, the Station has got not a single computer set for documentation of research works, he noted.

Meanwhile, sources from the Station informed that the scientists are targeting to produce KD-5314, KD-1871, WR-1911, WR-3261 and WR-1561 varieties of paddy.