Sundarbans Revives Lost Bengal Rice Varieties, Farmers' Fortunes to Shine with New Seed Preservation

• South 24 Parganas emphasizes seed preservation to combat climate change, reviving Bengal's lost rice varieties.
• Traditional rice like Kalomota, Sadamota, and lost varieties such as Kanakchur, Kalabhat are being brought back.
• A special method using earthen pots and pitchers is being employed for seed preservation in Sundarbans.
• Traditional varieties offer climate resilience (salty water, diverse land) and health benefits (Kalabhat is cancer-preventive).
• Farmers are encouraged to return to traditional rice cultivation due to high costs and disaster impact on hybrid varieties.

Why It Matters: Sundarbans leads the revival of Bengal's traditional rice through new seed preservation, boosting farmer resilience.