Assam: Growing use of hybrid seeds raises concerns over decline of indigenous rice varieties

The increasing use of hybrid seeds amid the modernisation of agriculture has raised concerns over the gradual decline of indigenous rice varieties and the traditional seed preservation practices followed by farmers across generations.

Driven by the prospect of higher yields, farmers are increasingly opting for hybrid rice varieties. While these seeds are being adopted as part of efforts to improve agricultural productivity, their growing use is gradually reducing the area under cultivation of several traditional rice varieties.

Indigenous varieties, whose seeds have been carefully preserved by farming communities for generations, are facing the risk of disappearing as cultivation patterns change. Among the traditional varieties cultivated in the region are Ahu, Sali, Lahi, Bao, different varieties of Joha and Komal rice.

The shift towards hybrid seeds has also raised concerns over farmers' growing dependence on seed markets and private seed-producing companies. Unlike traditional varieties, hybrid seeds generally need to be purchased afresh for every cultivation cycle to maintain their expected performance. This could gradually weaken the age-old practice of farmers preserving seeds from their own harvests for the next sowing season.

Traditionally, farmers have maintained a degree of self-reliance by selecting and storing seeds from their harvests. This practice has helped farming communities preserve indigenous rice varieties and pass on agricultural knowledge from one generation to another.

However, the increasing preference for hybrid seeds could gradually undermine this tradition, making farmers more dependent on external sources for their agricultural requirements.

While improving crop productivity remains an important objective of agricultural modernisation, the conservation of indigenous seed varieties and the preservation of traditional farming practices are also crucial for the long-term sustainability of agriculture.

The growing shift towards hybrid seeds has therefore brought renewed attention to the need to protect traditional rice varieties and maintain seed diversity, while ensuring that farmers retain the ability to preserve and use their own seeds.