How Sri Lanka’s heirloom rice can preserve Indigenous farming and help manage disease
Sri Lanka is working to preserve its heirloom rice varieties, which have been cultivated for centuries and are now stored at the Plant Genetic Resources Centre. These traditional varieties are valued for their nutritional and medicinal benefits and are being promoted as a way to support Indigenous farming practices. Scientists are helping farmers adapt these varieties to modern challenges, including climate risks, while also highlighting their potential role in managing non-communicable diseases. Efforts are underway to reintroduce these resilient crops into agricultural systems.
Sri Lanka is preserving 2,500 heirloom rice varieties, once widely grown by Indigenous farmers, at a genetic resources center.
These traditional rice types may help manage non-communicable diseases and support sustainable farming practices in the face of climate change.
The story highlights how protecting ancient crops can revive Indigenous knowledge and offer practical solutions for food security and health.
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