Parliament Question: Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology led Tribal Heritage Project

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.479 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025 Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology led Tribal Heritage Project 479. Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) the details of traditional crop varieties documented in Kerala under the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology-led Tribal Heritage Project, district-wise; (b) the details of traditional crop varieties documented in Wayanad district and the details of those for which genetic profiling is underway has been completed; (c) the details of sites where field gene banks have been established in Wayanad under the project, and the criteria used for varietal selection; (d) the details of the aspects of community participation and involvement in the said project; (e) whether the participating farmers or community groups have received any remuneration, incentives or benefit-sharing support and if so, the details thereof; and (f) the other steps being taken by the Government to ensure conservation and promotion of traditional varieties of paddy, pepper and other crops?ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (DR. JITENDRA SINGH) (a) The Tribal Heritage Project, is led by Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) - an Institute of Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. BRIC-RGCB with the grant-in- aid support from Department of Science and Technology (DST) under its Science Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI) has been able to document 26 varieties of Dioscorea, 27 varieties of taro, 14 varieties of cassava, 5 varieties of jackfruit, 24 varieties of black pepper, 37 varieties of banana and 41 varieties of rice. The district- wise list is provided as Annexure I. (b) The details of traditional crop varieties collected from Wayanad and genetic profiling completed is given at Annexure –II. (c) The Field gene banks established in Wayanad for traditional paddy varieties are located in Makkimala, Thalapuzha Panchayath and Peechangode in Vellamunda Panchayath, in the Mananthavadi Taluk, while another field gene bank established in Nambikolly, Nenmeni Panchayath, Sultan Bathery Taluk. Additionally, a conservation plot cum field gene bank for wild tubers and bananas were established in Nellarachal, Ambalavayal Panchayath in Sultan Bathery Taluk. Only traditional landraces, which are diminishing from the mainstream cultivation in paddy, yams and tubers, and banana, were selected for the establishment of the field genebank and conservation plots. (d) The project activities—including the documentation of traditional land races of rice, tubers, and fruits utilized by tribal communities, the promotion and conservation of wild edibles through nursery establishments, and the creation of community enterprises based on traditional skills and knowledge—were carried out with the active involvement of tribal communities in the targeted districts of Idukki, Wayanad, and Thiruvananthapuram. The documentation of traditional land races was conducted in 56 tribal settlements across 12 blocks within these districts, involving interviews with 130 tribal informants from 10 different communities. The establishment of community enterprises rooted in traditional skills and local bio- resources, Self Help Groups and Societies were formed in tribal colonies. Twenty such community enterprises were equipped with essential infrastructure, tools and machineries, skill enhancement programs, and market linkage assistance. These enterprises focuses on various areas, including the nursery and sale of wild edibles, ethnic food production and value addition, medicinal plant processing, non-timber forest produce processing, lemongrass oil extraction, production of fixed oils from wild sources, and the application of ethnic medical practices.(e) To establish the field gene bank for traditional rice and a conservation cum demonstration plot for wild tubers and bananas, farmer groups received support for labor costs related to field preparation, as well as payments for procuring necessary consumables such as seeds and manure. Additionally, the income generated during harvesting was shared among Self Help Group (SHG) members after setting aside a seed fund for the next cropping season. Community enterprises focused on non- farming activities, such as ethnic food processing, medicinal plant processing, and wild oil extraction, were provided with work sheds and machinery, along with initial consumable support to facilitate their operations. The ongoing management of these units relies on revolving funds generated from their activities. (f) BRIC-RGCB under the Science Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI) program, has established a 7.2-hectare Field Gene Bank for traditional paddy varieties in Wayanad District, alongside three Conservation and Demonstration Plots and nurseries for wild edibles. These efforts involve tribal communities groups, including Nellara Pattika Vargha Karshakasangham in Wayanad, Agasthya SHG in Thiruvananthapuram, and Karuthaponnu SHG in Idukki, which also operates a nursery for traditional black pepper. These initiatives aimed to conserve and utilize traditional varieties while serving as educational tools to promote awareness about wild edibles, sustainable harvesting practices, and their cultural significance through community outreach events. *************Annexure-I The District wise list of Dioscorea varieties documented under Tribal Heritage project by BRIC-RGCB Sl. Wayanad Idukki Thiruvananthapuram No. 1. Chora Kachil (Dioscorea Chora Kachil Chora Kachil (Dioscorea alata) (Dioscorea alata) alata) 2 Bharani Kachil Orange Kachil Kattu Kachil (Dioscorea (Dioscorea alata) (Dioscorea alata) alata) 3 Kattu Kachil (Dioscorea Palvalli=Kachil Van Kizhangu (Dioscorea alata) (Dioscorea alata) esculenta) 4 Van Kizhangu Kezhaykka Kachil Nooran (Dioscorea (Dioscorea esculenta) (Dioscorea alata) pentaphylla) 5 Nooran (Dioscorea Aadhivasi Kachil Kaduvakkayyan Kachil pentaphylla) (Dioscorea alata) (Dioscorea alata) 6 Kaduvakkayyan Kachil Kattu Kachil (Dioscorea Adathappu (Dioscorea (Dioscorea alata) alata) bulbifera) 7 Adathappu (Dioscorea Nooran (Dioscorea Mullan Kizhangu bulbifera) pentaphylla) (Dioscorea esculenta) 8 Mullan Kizhangu Kaduvakkayyan Kachil Kattu Adathappu (Dioscorea esculenta) (Dioscorea alata) (Dioscorea bulbifera) 9 Neela Kachil (Dioscorea Adathappu (Dioscorea Thettam (Dioscorea alata) bulbifera) oppositifolia) 10 Kattu Adathappu Mullan Kizhangu Neendikachil (Dioscorea (Dioscorea bulbifera) (Dioscorea esculenta) alata) 11 Venni Kizhangu Chavan Kizhangu Inji Kachil (Dioscorea (Dioscorea hispida) (Dioscorea tomentosa) alata)12 Kaattu Kizhangu Kaattu Kizhangu Kaattu Kizhangu (Dioscorea wallichi) (Dioscorea wallichi) (Dioscorea wallichi) 13 Cherukizhangu Manthal (Dioscorea Kappa Kachil (Dioscorea (Dioscorea esculenta) sps) alata) 14 Thettam (Dioscorea Thettam (Dioscorea Quintal Kachil (Dioscorea oppositifolia) oppositifolia) alata) 15 Neendikachil (Dioscorea Kattu Adathappu Undakachil (Dioscorea alata) (Dioscorea bulbifera) alata) 16 Inji Kachil (Dioscorea Muttakachil (Dioscorea Vennikkizhang (Dioscorea alata) alata) homiltonii) Pannikkachil (Dioscorea alata) 17 Mogappan (Dioscorea Thnan Kachil Cherukizhangu wallichii) (Dioscorea alata) (Dioscorea esculenta) 18 Kuppunthi (Dioscorea Velangal (Dioscorea Van Kizhangu (Dioscorea alata) spp) esculenta) 19 Kappa Kachil Undakachil (Dioscorea (Dioscorea alata) alata) 20 Quintal Kachil Vennikkizhang (Dioscorea alata) (Dioscorea homiltonii) 21 Vennikkizhang Cherukizhangu (Dioscorea homiltonii) (Dioscorea esculenta) 22 Undakachil (Dioscorea Van Kizhangu alata) (Dioscorea esculenta) 23 Sugandhakachil (Dioscorea alata) 24 Kodikachil (Dioscorea alata) 25 Cheramadayan (Diocorea alata) 26 Arikizhang (Dioscoreaalata) The District wise list of Taro varieties documented under Tribal Heritage project by BRIC-RGCB Sl. Wayanad Idukki Thiruvananthapu N ram o. 1 Vettu Chembu (Colocasia Vettu Chembu (Colocasia Vettu Chembu esculenta) esculenta) (Colocasia esculenta) 2 Anakomban (Colocasia Paal chembu (Xanthosoma Paal chembu esculenta) sagitifolium) (Xanthosoma sagitifolium) 3 Paal chembu (Xanthosoma Kula Chembu (Colocasia Makkalepotti sagitifolium) Esculenta) (Colocasia esculenta) 4 Arattupuzha Kannan Araya Chembu Thada Thamarakannan (Colocasia esculenta) Chembu (Colocasia Chembu esculenta) (Colocasia esculenta) 5 Neychembu (Colocasia Podi Chembu( Colocasia Choriyan Chembu esculenta) esculenta) (Colocasia esculenta) 6 Makkalepotti (Colocasia Motta Chembu (Colocasia Kuzhinirayan esculenta) esculenta) Chembu (Colocasia esculenta) 7 Nanachembu (Colocasia Chemban Chembu Kannan chembu esculenta) (Colocasia esculanta) (Colocasia esculenta) 8 Upperichembu type 2 Kotta Chembu (Colocasia Cheerachembu (Colocasia esculenta) esculenta) 9 Maran Chembu or Iyya Makkalepotti (Colocasia Chembu (Alocasiamacrorrhizos) esculenta) 10 Thamarakannan Chembu Thamarakannan Chembu (Colocasia esculenta) (Colocasia esculenta) 11 Kappachembu (Colocasia Choriyan Chembu esculenta) (Colocasia esculenta) 12 Cheera chembu type Kuzhinirayan Chembu (Colocasia gigantean) (Colocasia esculenta) 13 Pindalan Chembu Kannan chembu (Colocasia (Colocasia esculenta) esculenta) 14 Kudavazha Chembu Karichembu/Neelachembu (Colocasia esculenta) (Colocasia esculenta) 15 Valan chembu (Colocasia esculenta) 16 Mukthakeshi (Colocasia esculenta) 17 Kannan chembu (Colocasia esculenta) 18 Karichembu/Neelachembu (Colocasia esculenta) 19 Cheruchembu (Colocasia esculenta) 20 Chuvanna Chembu (Colocasia esculenta) 21 Vella Chembu/Cheera Chembu (Colocasia esculenta) 22 Kattu Chembu/Veli Chembu (Colocasia esculenta) 23 Kudamalaran Chembu (Colocasia esculenta) 24 Karutha Kannan Chembu(Colocasia esculenta) 25 Aattu Kannan Chembu (Colocasia esculenta) 26 Choriyan Chembu (Colocasia esculenta) 27 Kuzhinirayan Chembu (Colocasia esculenta) The District wise list of Cassava varieties documented under Tribal Heritage project by BRIC-RGCB Sl. Wayanad Idukki Thiruvananthapura No m . 1. Quintal Kappa 1 (Manihot Kantharippadappan Aarumasa Kappa esculenta) (Manihot esculenta) (Manihot esculenta) 2 Malabar Vella (Manihot Karuthathandan (Manihot Ambakkadan esculenta) esculenta) (Manihot esculenta) 3 Aarumasa Kappa (Manihot Curryveppu Kappa Curryveppu Kappa esculenta) (Manihot esculenta) (Manihot esculenta) 4 Eetha kappa (Manihot Malabar Vella (Manihot Malabar Vella esculenta) esculenta) (Manihot esculenta) 5 Ambakkadan (Manihot Quintal Kappa 1 (Manihot Ramanthala Kappa esculenta) esculenta) (Manihot esculenta) 6 Kochulahannan (Manihot Ramanthala Kappa esculenta) (Manihot esculenta) 7 Silcon kappa (Manihot Pambakuda Kappa esculenta) (Manihot esculenta) 8 Aarumasa Kappa (Manihot esculenta) 9 Eetha kappa (Manihot esculenta)10 Nalumasa Kappa (Manihot esculenta) 11 Rotti kappa (Manihot esculenta) 12 Violet Kappa (Manihot esculenta) 13 Silcon kappa (Manihot esculenta) 14 Ambakkadan (Manihot esculenta) The District wise list of Jackfruit documented under Tribal Heritage project by BRIC-RGCB Sl. Wayanad Idukki Thiruvananthapura No m . 1. Varikka (Artocarpus Varikka (Artocarpus Varikka (Artocarpus heterophyllus) heterophyllus) heterophyllus) 2 Koozha (Artocarpus Koozha (Artocarpus Koozha (Artocarpus heterophyllus) heterophyllus) heterophyllus) 3 Then Varikka (Artocarpus Then Varikka (Artocarpus Then Varikka heterophyllus) heterophyllus) (Artocarpus heterophyllus) 4 Navarikka (Artocarpus Navarikka (Artocarpus Navarikka heterophyllus) heterophyllus) (Artocarpus heterophyllus) 5 Unda Chakka (Artocarpus Unda Chakka (Artocarpus Unda Chakka heterophyllus) heterophyllus) (Artocarpus heterophyllus) The District wise list of Black pepper documented under Tribal Heritage project by BRIC-RGCBSl. Wayanad Idukki Thiruvananthapuram No . 1 Karimunda (Piper Thottamundi (Piper Kottanadan (Piper nigrum) nigrum) nigrum) 2 Kuthira Vali (Piper Neelamundi (Piper nigrum) Thottamundi (Piper nigrum) nigrum) 3 Balankotta (Piper nigrum) Maran Pedathi (Piper Karimunda (Piper nigrum) nigrum) 4 Uthirankotta (Piper Vatta Mundi (Piper nigrum) Kuthira Vali (Piper nigrum) nigrum) 5 Wayanadan chettan Vella Mundi (Piper nigrum) Vella Mundi (Piper (Piper nigrum) nigrum) 6 Karimunda (Piper nigrum) Thulam Mundi (Piper nigrum) 7 Kallugal Kodi (Piper nigrum) 8 Manja Mundi (Piper nigrum) 9 Kathira Vali (Piper nigrum) 10 Thulam Mundi (Piper nigrum) 11 Mala Mundi (Piper nigrum) 12 Jeeraka Munda (Piper nigrum) 13 Kochu Kanikkaran (Piper nigrum) 14 Ambbara Mundi (Piper nigrum) 15 Valiya Karimunda (Piper nigrum) 16 Kumbha Kodi (Pipernigrum) 17 Nayara Kodi (Piper nigrum) 18 Zebra Mundi (Piper nigrum) 19 Aana Cheviyan (Piper nigrum) 20 Arimundi (Piper nigrum) 21 Arakulam Mundi (Piper nigrum) 22 Vellanamban (Piper nigrum) 23 Irumaniyan (Piper nigrum) 24 Chenganoor Kodi (Piper nigrum) The District wise list of Banana varieties documented under Tribal Heritage project by BRIC-RGCB Sl. Wayanad Idukki Thiruvananthapuram No. 1. Vannan/Mannan (Musa Vannan/Mannan (Musa Njalipoovan(Musa sps) sps) sps) 2 Adaykka Poovan (Musa Pachachingan(Musa sps) Chenkadhali sps) 3 Aattunenthra (Musa sps) Charapoovan 4 Chundilla Nenthran (Musa Chundilla Nenthran Nadan sps) (Musa sps) Poovan/Podipoovan 5 Manjappoovan(Musa sps) Njalipoovan(Musa sps) Sugandhi (Musa sps) 6 Chundillakannan (Musa Chenkadhali Robusta (Musa sps) sps) 7 Malampoovan (Musa sps) Pooja Kadhali(Musa sps) Palemkodan (Musa sps) 8 Charappovan (Musa sps) Charapoovan 9 Nadan Poovan/Podipoovan Nadan Poovan/Podipoovan 10 Wayanadan Sugandhi (Musa sps)Kalluvazha(Musa sps) 11 Amruthasagar(Musa sps) Robusta (Musa sps) 12 Poonkalli(Musa sps) Palemkodan (Musa sps) 13 Adukkan (Musa sps) 14 Chavanippovan(Musa sps) 15 Mysore Ethan (Musa sps) 16 Karpooravalli (Musa sps) 17 Manja Vazha (Musa sps) 18 Velipadathi(Musa sps) 19 Kali (Musa sps) 20 Monthan (Musa sps) 21 Vettan (Musa sps) 22 Chemmatti (Musa sps) 23 Kunnhan (musa sps) 24 Njalipoovan(Musa sps) 25 Chenkadhali (Musa sps) 26 Pooja Kadhali(Musa sps) 27 Sugandhi (Musa sps) 28 Robusta (Musa sps) 29 Palemkodan (Musa sps) 30 Eranadan padathi 31 Thenkali 32 Kallankadali 33 Peyan 34 Perumpadali 35 Kunnancheruth 36 Penangu 37 English Poovan Traditional rice varieties documented from Wayanad under Tribal Heritage project by BRIC-RGCB Sl. No. Rice varieties Sl. No. Rice varieties 1 Arimudan 29 Njavara 2 Kothandan 30 Onamottan 3 Rethasaali 31 Kodakan Thondi 4 Adukkan 32 Jeerakasala 5 Annamundan 33 Kuruva 6 Ayiramkana 34 Kullan Thondi 7 Adukkan (II) 35 Kanali 8 Njavara 36 Kuruvatti 9 Idavaka 37 Chuvanna Chitteni10 Thondi Kayama 38 Jeeraka Chembavu 11 Gandhakasala 39 Mullan Channa 12 Kunjootti 40 Koduveliyan 13 Kurumatta 41 Marathondi 14 Veliyan 15 Ayirammeni 16 Kavungin poothala 17 Mallikuruva 18 Mullankayama 19 Mullanpunja/okka punja 20 Palthondi 21 Thonnuranthondi 22 Chomala 23 Cheruthondi 24 Ayiramkana 25 Chennellu 26 Kalladiyaran 27 Njavara 28 ThavalakkannanAnnexure –II The details of traditional crop varieties collected from Wayanad and conducted genetic profiling at BRIC-RGCB. 1. Land races of Dioscorea Sl. No. Land races of Dioscorea Dioscorea alata 1 Sugandhakachil 2 Undakachil 3 Neendikachil 4 Mattukachil 5 Kaduvakayyankachil 6 Kappakachil 7 Injikachil 8 Chorakachil 9 Quintalkachil 10 Thoonankachil Dioscorea esculenta 11 Mukkizhangu 12 Cherukizhangu (small) 13 Cherukizhangu (large) 14 Vankizhangu 15 Nanakizhangu 16 Erachikachil 17 Adathappu 18 Pattikachil Dioscorea oppositifolia 19 Kanjiravallikizhangu 20 Naarakizhangu Dioscorea wallichi 21 Mogappan Dioscorea pentaphylla 22 Nooran 2. Traditional rice varieties Sl. No. Rice varieties Sl. No. Rice varieties 1 Arimudan 29 Njavara 2 Kothandan 30 Onamottan 3 Rethasaali 31 Kodakan Thondi 4 Adukkan 32 Jeerakasala5 Annamundan 33 Kuruva 6 Ayiramkana 34 Kullan Thondi 7 Adukkan (II) 35 Kanali 8 Njavara 36 Kuruvatti 9 Idavaka 37 Chuvanna Chitteni 10 Thondi Kayama 38 Jeeraka Chembavu 11 Gandhakasala 39 Mullan Channa 12 Kunjootti 40 Koduveliyan 13 Kurumatta 41 Marathondi 14 Veliyan 15 Ayirammeni 16 Kavungin poothala 17 Mallikuruva 18 Mullankayama 19 Mullanpunja/okka punja 20 Palthondi 21 Thonnuranthondi 22 Chomala 23 Cheruthondi 24 Ayiramkana 25 Chennellu 26 Kalladiyaran 27 Njavara 28 Thavalakkannan 3. Banana varieties Sl. Wayanad No. 1. Chundillakannan (Musa sps) 2 Karpooravalli (Musa sps) 3 Monthan (Musa sps) 4 Vettan (Musa sps) 5 Chemmatti (Musa sps) 6 Kunnhan (musa sps) 7 Eranadan padathi (Musa sps) 8 Thenkali (Musa sps) 9 Kallankadali (Musa sps) 10 Peyan (Musa sps) 11 Perumpadali (Musa sps) 12 Kunnancheruth (Musa sps)13 Penangu (Musa sps) 14 English Poovan (Musa sps)