Traditional Rices of India: Preserving Our Heritage and Health

Traditional Rice of India

India, a land known for its agricultural diversity and richness, has been home to over 200,000 varieties of traditional paddy seeds in 1950s, according to Dr. Richhariya, an agricultural scientist who served as the Chief of many prestigious agricultural institutions in India. Dr. Richhariya estimates that if a person were to eat three traditional rice varieties per day, it would take him 183 years to experience the all of India’s traditional rices.

However, today, 99% of the rice Indians consume is hybrid rice. These hybrid varieties have been artificially bred to yield higher , often resulting in lack of essential nutrients. Many of our traditional rice varieties are rich in essential micronutrients that are essential for the human body’s normal functioning. These nutrients are largely absent in the hybrid rice we eat today.

These hybrid rices are generally polished to give them a white appearance, while traditional rice varieties come in a different colors, including Brown, Red, Orange, Purple and Black. For thousands of years, traditional rice varieties have been carefully developed by Indian farmers to possess unique, health-promoting properties.

Health Benefits of Traditional Rice Varieties

Recent scientific studies have uncovered remarkable facts about traditional rice. India’s traditional farmers were able to breed medicinal rice varieties that could treat severe diseases like diabetes, anemia, ADHD & autism, and even cancer. Traditional rice varieties have long been used in Ayurveda and Siddha to treat and heal many diseases. Our ancestors were able to breed aromatic rice, imparting a unique and pleasant fragrance for rice. Some rice varieties required no cooking at all; simply soaking them for a few minutes made them ready to eat. Moreover, certain varieties were specifically bred to be beneficial for lactating mothers, while others were designed to enhance male sex hormones like testosterone.

Adaptability of Traditional Rice

Indian Farmers were also able to breed rice that could thrive in various challenging conditions. There were flood-tolerant paddy varieties, saline-resistant paddy that could be cultivated near seashores and drought-resistant varieties that required minimal water. Many villages in India had their own indigenous rice varieties tailored to local soil and climatic conditions. This immense diversity and genetic wealth took generations of careful cultivation by farmers.

The Loss of Genetic Wealth

However, today, fewer than 2,000 traditional paddy varieties remain out of the original 200,000 traditional paddy varieties. The remaining 99% of these traditional seeds have gone "extinct" meaning they are no longer available to farmers. The vast genetic wealth that traditional Indian farmers had accumulated over thousands of years was lost in just a single generation in 60 years in name of "Green Revolution" and modern agriculture.

Why Traditional Rice Matters

The hybrid rice varieties we consume today are lacking in essential nutrients when compared with traditional rice. These nutrients are critical for proper bodily function. Without proper nutrition, people face a range of health problems, including malnutrition, impaired brain development, reduced cognitive functions, and heart diseases.

In India, Malnutrition affects 1 in 2 children, impairing their cognitive development and contributing to widespread diseases like malaria and pneumonia. It is not that we don't have food, we eat enough food but our food lacks the essential nutrition for our body. Switching to traditional rice varieties could help combat these health issues, as they are far richer in essential nutrients compared to hybrid rice.

Our Mission at Richhariya Farms

At Richhariya Farms, we are committed to preserving and conserving the endangered traditional rice varieties of India. By providing consumers with healthy, nutritious traditional rice, we aim to ensure that these ancient varieties do not become extinct, and we hope to revive a healthier, more sustainable way of eating and lving.

If you’re looking for healthy, traditional rice varieties, we invite you to explore our offerings and support the movement towards preserving India’s agricultural heritage. Click here to go to our store

Importance of Traditional Rice

Hybrid rice, with its limited nutritional value, contributes significantly to health problems across the country. Traditional rice varieties, however, are packed with essential nutrients that can alleviate malnutrition, improve cognitive development, and reduce the risk of diseases.

It’s time to return to our roots and embrace the power of traditional rice for a healthier future.

Karthik, the author of this article, is into Traditional rice seeds conservation at a village level for past 6 years.