**Executive Summary**
The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) has achieved a significant milestone with the notification of the Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam, as a Biodiversity Heritage Site. Implemented since 2022, this project focuses on the *in-situ* conservation of wild rice (*Oryza rufipogon*) to secure genetic resources for climate-resilient agriculture. The initiative highlights the necessity of protecting wild crop relatives to ensure long-term food security and sustainable agricultural development in India.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Framework and Collaboration**
* The project, "In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (*Oryza rufipogon*) in Sonitpur District of Assam," is funded by the NRAA under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
* Implementation is led by the ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) in collaboration with the Assam State Biodiversity Board.
* The initiative has been operational since 2022, focusing on the exploration, conservation, and characterization of wild rice germplasm.
* **Significant Milestones**
* The National Biodiversity Authority has officially notified the Borjuli site in Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
* The site was identified through the project's efforts to locate and protect critical wild rice genetic resources.
* **Agricultural and Genetic Importance**
* Wild rice species serve as an essential gene source for developing rice varieties that are climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutritionally superior.
* The project aims to enhance the overall resilience and sustainability of Indian agriculture.
* There is a directive to replicate this conservation model for other crop wild relatives across India to bolster national food security.
**Impact Analysis**
**National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)**
**Impact:** Responsible for the formal recognition and legal notification of the Borjuli site as a protected area.
**Action Required:** Oversee the continued designation and protection of the site to prevent loss of biodiversity.
**ICAR-NBPGR and Assam State Biodiversity Board**
**Impact:** These bodies successfully executed the research, characterization, and identification of the germplasm.
**Action Required:** Continue technical conservation efforts and provide data to support the replication of this model for other species.
**National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA)**
**Impact:** Confirms the success of its funding and strategic oversight in genetic resource conservation.
**Action Required:** Facilitate and fund the replication of similar conservation initiatives for various crop wild relatives across the country.
**Agricultural Researchers and Breeders**
**Impact:** Gain access to a protected and characterized source of wild rice genes for crop improvement.
**Action Required:** Utilize the conserved genetic resources to develop new, high-yielding, and climate-resilient rice varieties.
Key Entities Referenced
National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA): The funding and overseeing authority under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare responsible for the wild rice conservation project.
In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon): The specific conservation project implemented to preserve India's wild rice genetic resources and enhance climate-resilient agriculture.
Borjuli, Sonitpur, Assam: The specific geographical site notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site for its rich wild rice diversity.
National Biodiversity Authority: The regulatory body responsible for notifying the Borjuli site as a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR): The primary scientific institution that implemented the exploration, conservation, and characterization of wild rice germplasm.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project
Secures Major Milestone in Assam
Borjuli Site in Sonitpur Notified as Biodiversity Heritage Site
Posted On: 02 JUL 2026 11:19AM by PIB Delhi
The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has
achieved a significant milestone in the conservation of India's wild rice genetic resources through its
funded project titled "In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur
District of Assam." The project has been implemented since 2022 by the ICAR–National Bureau of Plant
Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR), New Delhi, in collaboration with the Assam State Biodiversity
Board.
A team of scientists from ICAR-NBPGR called on Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, IAS, Chief Executive
Officer, NRAA, and briefed him on the project's achievements in the exploration, conservation and
characterization of wild rice germplasm. The team informed that the Borjuli site in Sonitpur district of
Assam, identified under the project, has been notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site by the National
Biodiversity Authority. The recognition marks a major step towards conserving India's rich wild rice
diversity and strengthening climate-resilient agriculture.
Commending the efforts of the research team, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar said that wild rice species are
an invaluable source of genes for developing climate-resilient, high-yielding and nutritionally superior rice
varieties. He emphasized the need to replicate similar conservation initiatives for other crop wild relatives
across the country to enhance the resilience, sustainability and long-term food security of Indian
agriculture.
The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Pankaj Kumar Shah, Director (Agriculture & Horticulture), NRAA,
and Dr. Anil Kumar Mishra, Technical Expert (Watershed Management), NRAA.
*****
RC/MS
(Release ID: 2280202) Visitor Counter : 1771
Read this release in: Gujarati , Urdu , ही , Assamese , Manipuri , Bengali , Bengali-TR , Punjabi , Tamil , Telugu