ISKCON Mayapur shows interest in cultivating 8 varieties of aromatic rice

ISKCON Mayapur has approached the state government showing interest to cultivate eight out of 21 varieties of aromatic rice which has been revived by the state Agriculture department.

The state Agriculture department has revived 21 varieties of aromatic rice which have become almost extinct. The rice research centre of the state Agriculture department at Hanskhali had been working in the sector and has become successful in reviving 21 varieties of the aromatic rice.

The step to revive the rice varieties was taken up after the change of guard in the state and it is one of the most important tasks carried out by the rice research centre in the past few years.

Sources in the state Agriculture department said that ISKCON Mayapur will be cultivating the eight varieties of the aromatic rice on their land of around 100 acre. ISKCON authorities had discussions in this regard with scientists in the rice research centre and the officials of the state Agriculture department. It has been learnt that scientists from the rice research centre have already visited the land where ISKCON Mayapur wants to cultivate the aromatic rice.

They have carried out all necessary tests and have come to a conclusion that both the land and the weather is favourable to start the cultivation. With ISKCON Mayapur showing interest to cultivate the rice varieties, it is expected that people from different parts of the world would come to know that such rice is produced in Bengal, said an official of the Agriculture department adding that a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the state government and ISKCON Mayapur.

Scientists in the research centre would be providing their expertise to make the efforts of ISKCON Mayapur successful, sources said. The state government is also taking initiatives to start the cultivation of aromatic rice on more lands which would be selected as per the requirements of the rice varieties.