Varsha Sharma has been through some turbulent years on her small farm in the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India.
For more than a century her family have been rice farmers, but erratic rainfall and water being diverted for industry have made cultivating rice more difficult.
Seven years ago she switched to a hybrid rice variety and to growing apples, but that just caused fresh problems.
Seven years ago she switched to a hybrid rice variety and to growing apples, but that just caused fresh problems.
“We destroyed our soils by adding chemicals and fertilizers,” she says.
So in 2018 she switched again, this time experimenting with red rice, a variety which has a long history in Himachal Pradesh, but has dwindled as farmers have switched to modern varieties.
Red rice has attractive qualities. It is hardy and grows well without fertiliser and other chemicals. Research also shows it has nutritional benefits over white rice.
But perhaps for farmers the biggest attraction is that it sells well.
“Red rice fetches a good price, ranging between $3 and $4 per kilo in the retail market, as it completely organic. This has helped many farmers like me,” says Ms Sharma.
Varsha Sharma has been through some turbulent years on her small farm in the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India.
Seven years ago she switched to a hybrid rice variety and to growing apples, but that just caused fresh problems.
For more than a century her family have been rice farmers, but erratic rainfall and water being diverted for industry have made cultivating rice more difficult.
“We destroyed our soils by adding chemicals and fertilizers,” she says.
Seven years ago she switched to a hybrid rice variety and to growing apples, but that just caused fresh problems.
Seven years ago she switched to a hybrid rice variety and to growing apples, but that just caused fresh problems.
“We destroyed our soils by adding chemicals and fertilizers,” she says.
So in 2018 she switched again, this time experimenting with red rice, a variety which has a long history in Himachal Pradesh, but has dwindled as farmers have switched to modern varieties.
Red rice has attractive qualities. It is hardy and grows well without fertiliser and other chemicals. Research also shows it has nutritional benefits over white rice.
But perhaps for farmers the biggest attraction is that it sells well.
“Red rice fetches a good price, ranging between $3 and $4 per kilo in the retail market, as it completely organic. This has helped many farmers like me,” says Ms Sharma.
#future #India039s #rice #farmers
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