India is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of crop diversity. Over hundreds of years of farming in different ecological settings, the farmers of India have bred and grown thousands of varieties of rice. So many varieties and so many ways to grow them!

This genetic wealth is fast eroding. People living in cities today are ignorant of this fact and are not concerned. After reading this issue of GT, we hope you feel strongly about this and wish to change the state of affairs. To begin with atleast we can collect and document this ecological history of our country. Every region in India has a different story to tell. Why don’t you investigate the rice scene in your locality? Find out the types of rice available in your local area, how farmers grow them and ask them how things have changed. Interview your local grocer, visit your towns wholesale market, ask your grandparents of the kinds of rice they ate...

We wish this to be a collaborative and voluntary effort between GT readers across the county and us. Anyone can participate - an individual, a family, a class or school. Feel free to contact us for any clarifications or help you may want. We will compile all your reports and publish the results in a forthcoming issue. All participants will get a surprise gift. Last date for submission: 15 March 2004

Send your 'Rice India' project reports to:
Gobar Times, Centre for Science and Environment, 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi 110062. Fax: (011) 2995 5879 E-mail: panditji@cseindia.org