M. Kumari and S. Kumar. (2012). Vandana: A Gift of Emerging Science for Coastal Farmers in Odisha. Emerging Science. 4(4): 29-30.
Sanjeet Kumar
Department of Biotechnology, Ravenshaw University
Cuttack,India
sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com
Rice has been the principal food crop of Odisha much before the 14th century AD. When Wang-Ta-Yuan, the Chinese writer of the 14th century visited the State it was being grown in abundance. Other historical texts, like the Manasollasa of Somesvara and the Mahabharata of Sarala Das, too point out that paddy cultivation was the mainstay of the people of this region which was endowed with fertile land and had plenty of rivers running through it. The similarity between the name Orissa and the Greek name for rice “Oryza” has led many to speculate that the name of the State derives its name from the crop known as Oryza Sativa. Rice is the seed of the monocot plants as a cereal grain it is the most important staple food for a large part of the India and particularly in Odisha therefore rice is an important part of the Mahaprasad that is offered to Lord Jagannath every day .It grown by the farmers in all geographical parts of Odisha but in coastal part the farmers face different type of problems. Coastal part of Odisha frequently faces cyclone particularly in late rainy season and first winter which damage the wet season’s rice. In the end of October 1999, the super cyclone devastated the coastal districts of Odisha, especially Ersama block of Jagatsinghpur district causing total damage of field crops. In such unpredictable, adverse situation, the growing of contingent field crops before cyclone will be an appropriate approach for providing food and nutritional security to the farm families. Keeping this in view the CRRI made a history as “Vandana” with eight other cooperating centers under a project entitled “Management of Coastal agro-ecosystem in super cyclone affected areas in Odisha” funding from NATP. Vandana help to farmers for escaping the bad effects of a possible cyclone in the months of September to November, which occur frequently in Odisha. ‘Vandana’ is a good quantity of rice within a short period of 90 days. The cultivation of ‘Vandana’ and similar varieties with early duration will facilitate in the built up of enough reserve food before cyclone occurs in the months of September-November and also can reduce the malnutrition and famine among the rural people of coastal areas of Odisha. It is the indication of new arrival and research for the creation of other biotic and abiotic tolerant crops using new biological technology for human beings.
References:
- News Letter and success stories of CRRI,
- www.wikipedia.com
Sanjeet Kumar
No comments:
Post a Comment