AMAPCON appeals for registration of native paddy crops
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 24 2023:
All Manipur Trained Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Promoters' Consortium (AMAPCON) has appealed to the authority concerned to study and register the indigenous paddy crop varieties of the state.
Addressing the media at Manipur Press Club here on Sunday, AMAPCON president P Devkanta suggested that as there are several indigenous paddy crop varieties bereft of formal authentication, the department concerned needs to conduct proper study of the same and register them for future.
Registering a crop variety will not only protect the rights of ownership of the crop but also bring royalty income in case some countries use it for commercial production.
Indigenous varieties are climate resistant crops and they could adapt to the global climate change.
Unfortunately, these indigenous crops are waning in popularity and demand due to low crop yield, he said while stressing the need for in-depth research.
On the other hand, there are around 23 varieties of Chak-hao but only four to five varieties could be maintained in the state, he said while adding that registration of Chak-hao Poireiton was done about 10 years ago.
At the same time, there are five varieties of wild crops in the state which are tough to harvest as the ripe crops generally fall to the ground, he explained.
Devkanta also recounted about attending an international conference about eight years ago during which he realised that the wild paddy crops originated from the border area of Manipur and Myanmar.