Borjuli Wetland in Assam Declared Biodiversity Heritage Site for Wild Rice

Overview

• A team of ICAR‑NBPGR scientists told NRAA leadership that the Borjuli site in Sonitpur was notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site on Thursday, formalising legal protection for the wild rice population there.
• The in‑situ conservation project began in 2022 and is funded by the National Rainfed Area Authority while ICAR‑NBPGR implements the work in partnership with the Assam State Biodiversity Board.
• Scientists documented Oryza rufipogon at Borjuli and reported traits such as pest and disease resistance, tolerance to flooding and saline or acidic soils, photosensitive flowering, and seed shattering at maturity.
• NRAA CEO Chandra Shekhar Kumar said the site preserves genes useful for developing climate‑resilient, high‑yielding and nutritionally improved rice varieties and urged replication of similar protections across India.
• The ministry frames the designation as part of a wider push to conserve plant genetic resources to strengthen food security and to provide breeders with germplasm that could speed research and new variety development.