At a time when GM/GE (genetically-modified crops and gene-editing) technologies are being widely opposed in the context of India’s agricultural policy, in a general context as well as in the context of the most important food crop of rice, there is increasing interest in safe alternatives which are ecologically protective and can also help farmers by keeping down costs of cultivation. In this situation, a plan titled ‘A silent rice revolution – a specific plan of action for increase in productivity of rice’ formulated by Dr. R. H. Richharia, one of the most eminent rice scientists, appears as a ray of hope. While this plan was prepared in the context of India, a lot of what it says has a wider relevance for several other countries which grow rice as a leading crop. This specific plan of action was formulated by Dr. Richharia at the request of the Prime Minister’s office in 1983-84. However following the tragic assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi in 1984 somehow the plan got neglected. This is a particularly suitable time to revive this plan keeping in view new emerging risks. 

Dr. Richharia who lived and worked independently in Bhopal at that time soon suffered great health deterioration in the Carbide gas leak disaster and could not follow up the matter on his own. However when this writer met him well before his death he still had hopes that one day this document will prove very helpful for rice farmers and farming. In any case this will always remain an invaluable document for all concerned sincerely with the task and there should be wider information about this.

An idea about the stature of Dr. Richharia can be had from the fact that even though in the era of the false hopes of the so-called green revolution the government victimized him while he was holding the top rice scientist job in the country, his learning was considered so important that the government was constrained on three occasions to recall him from his retirement to seek his advice and give him important responsibilities. He was for several years the Director of Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI-Indian’s more important centre of rice research) from where he retired in the mid- 1960s. He was first recalled to head a national task-force on rice breeding, then to set up a rice research institute in Raipur (Chattisgarh) and then finally he was contacted by the Prime Minister’s office to prepare a plan for improving rice yields.

Now we come to Dr. Richharia’s ‘specific plan for action for increase in productivity of rice’. First he identifies the factors which have retarded the increase in rice productivity despite so much increase in investments in the form of fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, research, extension etc. Then he gives his plan. In brief Dr. Richharia’s plan has four basic components –

(1) rice development to be based on the rich diversity of indigenous rice varieties  which should be saved on farmers’ fields and a lot of priority and attention should be given to this aspect;

(2) a highly decentralized extension approach;

(3) large scale adoption of clonal propagation technique to spread improved indigenous varieties and

(4) very high levels of involvement of rice farmers with special emphasis on encouraging those farmers who have special skills and interest in protection and promotion of diverse indigenous varieties.

According to Dr. Richharia (all quotes from the plan)

“The main constraint has been the hurried introduction of the undesirable new rice material, the HYVs or High Yielding Varieties (dwarfs) on which we based our strategy, forgetting at the same time unexpected drought situations, under which the HYVs lowered the yields. In addition, under heavy fertilization and irrigation the HYVs proved to be susceptible to diseases and pest which cannot be controlled easily thus again pointing towards reduction of yield. Further, unlike wheat and sugarcane, the concept of ‘wider adaptability’ in rice has a limited scope for application (not exceeding 10 per cent of the rice area). This has naturally led to local preferences of different types of rice and socio-economic adjustments, developed in course of time.”

So, Dr, Richharia concludes, when the base is itself weak (meaning the new rice material) a mansion built on it must collapse. In other words what he was stating was that rice development should not take place on the limited genetic base of exotic green revolution varieties. 

Fortunately, indigenous high-yielding varieties adapted to local environment are available in the country. In a survey carried out in Madhya Pradesh (which then included Chattisgarh) between 1971-74, 8 per cent of the indigenous rice types were observed to fall under the category of high yielding types, fixing the minimum limit of 3705 kg/Ha. In view of this there is a need to redefine ‘HYVs’ which hitherto have been officially identified only with the exotic dwarf fertilizer – responsive varieties so that indigenous high-yielding seed varieties can be recognized more clearly. Many of these varieties are also widely appreciated for their other distinctive traits such as better cooking quality of various kinds, aroma, fragrance etc.

Dr. Richharia recommends strongly,

“It is high time that the country’s 1964-65 breeding program which nearly stands suspended to exploit the rice indigenous rice germplasm, is also resumed in the light of the observations, recorded above, when about 445 improved varieties, bred for specific stress situations, showing environmental resistance to diseases and pests were available, and would be still available, in the country. It is not too late and the strategy formulated in this program, mainly based on our rice genetic resources may be accepted which also contemplates that the indigenous germplasm in its hybridized form (hybrid rices) has also bright future to enhance rice productivity.”

Selection work (genetic upgrading) with indigenous rice types was resumed by Dr. Richharia in 1968 after leaving Cuttack

“About 1500 improved types (improved versions) and eleven composites were developed and made available by 1978 selected from about 7800 principal indigenous rice cultivars. As approach was to release this hidden production force which remains unnoticed, un-recognized and confined to certain localities with individual growers.”

“For high yield potential genetic upgrading of their adapted rice varieties (indigenous rice germplasm), with certain manipulation, such as the evolution of new hybrids and exploiting hybrid vigorous utilizing pure material of local types, is the only course left for speedy recovery of loss, to stabilize rice production at a higher level, instead of waiting to replace our rice by other rice material of doubtful nature which may or may not get adapted to stabilize yields in the environments under which rice grows in variable situations in India.”

In the area of research as well as extension, Dr. Richharia recommends a highly decentralized approach. This, he emphasizes, is inherent in the nature of the rice plant. To quote,

“If we were to think of a single characteristic feature of the rice plant which yields food for millions, it cannot be anything else but its variability in the form of thousands of its cultivars, spread in India and in other rice growing belts of the world. This is because of the rice plants flexible genetic make-up and mutational power of adaptation.”

So he recommends the establishment of a wide network of “adaptive rice centers” in all rice growing areas.

“The adaptive rice centers will be the custodian of all local rice cultivars in respective localities, assembled immediately, supplemented if necessary, by the already available materials of the locality at different research centers. They will be maintained under their natural habitat to safeguard the future. They will be known as local treasuries of rice germplasm, (a term suggested by Dr. Frankel of Australia).”

The function of the centers will be : 

(a) To maintain the evolved rice genetic material for future studies and use as it is practically impossible to retain it in its original form at a central place in India or abroad. It can only be maintained in its original condition at its natural habitat only seeking help of the rice growers themselves.

(b) To educate the young farmers to appreciate the value and importance of their own material adding new ones as their hobby.

On the basis of his wide experience Dr. Richharia says

“Invariably I found in rice areas several rice growers taking keen interest in their local rice varieties as they are very much absorbed in them and they have all praise for them, so much so that they trace back the history of individual rice varieties to their ancestry with their utility and such selected and devoted rice farmers will be put in charge of the centers. I also observed that some of them identify their rice varieties in their own way (not in terms of the modern knowledge of Botany) which amount to thousands. This inherent and intuitional facility of selection and maintenance of thousand of rice cultivars gradually being accumulated and descended upon for unknown centuries, ever since the rice first originated must be preserved and exploited for the advantage of the present generation and to ensure the safety of those still unborn.”

“On the practical side a beginning may be made in M.P. (the state of Madhya Pradesh which then included Chattisgarh region where a lot of the work of Dr. Richharia was done) where upgraded material already exists in the form of about 1500 improved types made from growers’ own rice cultivars which can be distributed in different centers for work to be started immediately, to obtain advantage as early as possible and to prepare the hybrid material for the next season.”

On the basis of his experience in Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Richharia stresses that women will prove to be the most important link in introducing this technology. At Adaptive Rice Research Centre in Baronda, Dr. Richharia noticed that women workers absorb new methods and ideas very quickly. Here he had specially promoted some women workers as supervisors for managing the germplasm of over 17000 rice cultivars in the field and the practice of clonal propagation.

For rapidly spreading improved upgraded varieties and for exploiting their hybrid vigor the clonal propagation technique can give very good results. “It will also be demonstrated that the healthy seeds, obtained by clonal propagation for a full crop of rice to follow, give nearly 20% higher production for any rice variety.” Further hybrid clones for exploiting hybrid vigor can be obtained. Hybridization work will be carried out by the trained field workers of the adaptive centers.

“Whereas clonal propagation in rice as a mean of raising pure seeds to offer 20 per cent higher production and the extension of this technology to exploit hybrid vigor to obtain 50 per cent increased yields, remain unexploited, a great discovery of immense value is left unheeded, in the form of 19 thousand rice cultivars coupled with their 1500 improved versions representing intense variability, assembled from the least understood rice areas of M.P. (Chattisgarh, Bastar, Abhujmal tracts etc. inhabited mostly by tribals.”

In a big part of the country the rice crop is ruined by drought conditions and in another significant part by flood conditions. In this context Dr. Richharia’s plan is all the more invaluable as it incorporates resistance to floods as well as drought conditions, not to mention disease and pest invasions.

Dr. Richharia’s documents of the days of his work at Raipur mention the several drought – resistant indigenous varieties discovered in the course of field – work in Chattisgarh region, and above all the immense diversity of the rice varieties grown. A special advantage of this in distress situations such as drought is that while some varieties suffer, some survive and so yield doesn’t go below a certain level. Regarding flood situation the clonal propagation method offers special advantages. It has been demonstrated that rice clones show resistance to submergence.

Dr. Richharia further expressed his support for organic farming and several local practices of farmers. He wrote that under this plan “the agronomic practices such as biasi, rotation of crops, mixed cropping will remain common and will not be disturbed, emphasis being on the use of organic manures, such as compost, green manure, neem cakes and oil cakes etc.”

Dr. Richharia attached 17 documents based on his earlier research to support his plan while submitting it to the then Prime Minister. In addition he mentioned his Encyclopedia of Rice Cultivars on which he was still working. He also offered his services on an honorary basis for implementing this plan.

However the collections of improved rice varieties he mentioned (mostly arising from his own work and the work of his colleagues) may not be available to the same extent today compared to the time when this plan was prepared. Similarly the knowledge of indigenous varieties in villages may be comparatively less now. However this is all the more reason why the implementation of this plan should not be delayed any further as with the passage of time the neglect and loss of indigenous varieties may make such tasks and initiatives even more difficult.

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Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save the Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril, Saving Earth for Children, A Day in 2071 and India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.

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