Akhan Phou, Kakching Phou pass climate resilient rice variety test
Source: Chronicle News Service / Oinam Mission

Imphal, October 05 2022: Akhan Phou (Khongnembi) and Kakcheng Phou, which are rice varieties native to Manipur, have passed the climate resilient rice variety test conducted by Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal.

The test was carried out by CAU in association with farmers from five districts of the state including one hill district under the aegis of the CAU agronomy department s HoD professor L Nabachandra to identify rice varieties that could withstand climate change.

The test has been continuing for the past two years on 22 indigenous rice varieties during which only the two varieties passed the test.

The world today is facing the impact of climate change, which is affecting food production.

The same impacts are also felt in Manipur as the state is experiencing erratic rainfall and occasional heat wave in the past few decades due to deforestation and other activities.

Apart from rising temperature and prolonged summer, rainfall activity has become erratic causing a major impact on agriculture.

In the wake of climate change, the world is focusing its attention towards climate resilient agriculture too and the same need is also felt in the state.

In such a situation, the experiment conducted by CAU is a step towards the right director.

Speaking to The People's Chronicle, professor L Nabachandra, who is overseeing the experiment directly, informed that the experiment was carried out as part of Climate Adaptation/Resilient Traditional Rice Variety Project under the sponsorship of Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi.

In the initial phase of the experiment, experts conducted surveys in select hill and valley districts, and collected opinions from farmers.

The 22 varieties of indigenous rice were the most common varieties proposed by the farmers, which they believe are the best.

The experiment was taken up in four hill and four valley districts.

After two years, the team identified Akhan Phou (Khongnembi) and Kakcheng Phou as the two climate-resilient rice varieties.

The final phase of the experiment was conducted only for the two varieties in five districts including one hill district by providing scientific input to the farmers.

Six farmers each were selected from Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts for the final phase experiment, he said and added that all the farms are getting the desired results and they are expecting a good harvest.

Nabachandra farther said that climate change is a global issue from which the state cannot run away.

As such, it is important to take up certain precautionary measures to lessen the impact of the impending crisis.

Identifying and adopting agricultural practice, which is resilient to climate change, is one of the crucial areas the state should put its focus, he suggested, while informing that other parts of the country have already adopted the practice.

Indigenous rice varieties are more resistant to climate change than the new and hybrid varieties.

As rice is the staple food of the state, the university took up the experiment on the native varieties only.

Since the experiment has succeeded in identifying climate resilient rice varieties, the university will take up further activities to enhance rice production, he said.

Despite the need for adopting new agricultural practices and crop varieties, which can withstand climate change, the most crucial remedy to the condition is afforestation and increasing forest cover.

Huirem Bijoy, a farmer from Nongpok Kakching, told TPC that he planted Akhan Phou (Khongnembi) in his farm at Nongpok Kakching Khema Loukol under the aegis of CAU Imphal since last year and harvested over 40 bags from one Sangam, which is a good harvest.

This year, he planted the same variety in one hectare out of which seeds provided by CAU which were used in one Sangam.

He used organic manure in half of the Sangam and chemical fertiliser in the other half.

Most of the farms in Khema Loukol experienced droughtlike situation and pest infestation this season.

Besides, his farm lies in a slightly elevated area due to which he faced extra difficulties.

Fortunately, he did not experience crop failure like others.

Though the production could be slightly less from last year, he is happy to get the result considering the situation faced in the area and the state as well.

He had experienced crop failure in past years before he got in touch with CAU experts, Bijoy confided.

He further said that some other farmers of the area planted Kakcheng Phou in their farms and they are also getting good harvest.

However, the rice variety is smaller than Akhan Phou (Khongnembi) resulting in lesser production.

He also confided that he prefers Akhan Phou over Kakcheng Phou.

Bijoy said that some parts of Khema Loukol are low lying area and farms in those areas do not face water issues whereas farms in the elevated area often face drought situation.

The government is laying a pipeline for drinking water from Thoubal dam to Imphal through the area.

The farmers would be happy if the government could incorporate project to divert some water for irrigating the fields in the area, he added.

While appreciating the initiatives taken up the experts of Central Agricultural University, he said that the experiment will help farmers across the state, especially when the state is facing erratic rainfall due to climate change.

(This report has been filed under the 3rd State Level Fellowship on Climate Change Reporting sponsored by the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change) .

Comment