India used to produce more then 100,000 varieties of rice prior to the green revolution, encompassing a stunning diversity in taste, nutrition, pest-resistance and, crucially in this age of climate change and natural disasters, adaptability to a range of conditions. #MyGreenAssam 
Though today much of this biodiversity is irretrievably lost, forced out by the quest for high-yield hybrids and varieties still, a significant number of traditional varieties of rice are still grown by small and marginal farmers across India, where they cater for local consumers
In 2005, a group of 20 tribal women farmers from six villages in Surguja district in India’s central-eastern state of Chhattisgarh, realized the threats to the survival of a traditional rice variety called JeeraPhool, and formed a self-help group to protect and promote it.
JeeraPhool, is an indigenous, superfine, aromatic variety of rice. The cumin-like grain is very soft in the mouth and remains flaky even after cooling. #MyGreenAssam #WorldEnvironmentDay
The project conducted “focal group discussions” and a thorough baseline survey on the present and past existence of 20 crops. It found that several hundred named landraces and farmers’ varieties of the 20 target crops were still being maintained by some farmers. #MyGreenAssam
To help conserve these varieties, 19 community seed banks have been initiated. They currently maintain over 2,000 traditional varieties of different crops. This will provide easier farmer access to a wider variety of seeds. #MyGreenAssam #WorldEnvironmentDay
Another unique feature of this project is that ex situ collections conserved in India’s National Gene Bank are being repatriated to farmers’ fields,” says Jai. “These include many of the varieties found to have been lost or discontinued in the surveyed communities. #MyGreenAssam
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