PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Navdanya organised the Dehraduni Basmati Festival to celebrate the aroma of Doon Valley’s legendary rice and the dedication of its farmers on the State foundation day on Sunday. The farmers who have preserved their land, traditions and the unique legacy of Dehraduni Basmati were felicitated on the occasion.
Navdanya founder and environmentalist Vandana Shiva said,
“Uttarakhand’s true identity lies in its agricultural heritage and food biodiversity. Women farmers, in particular, have played a crucial role in preserving this legacy. While concrete jungles have replaced much of Doon’s fertile land, a few farmers have kept their soil and tradition alive.”
Former chairman of National Biodiversity Authority, BB Mathur highlighted Dehradun’s unique place on the map for its litchi and basmati cultivation, calling Navdanya’s seed conservation efforts “historic”. “When farming itself has become a challenge, Navdanya’s farmers are keeping hope alive,” he said.
Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board chairman SP Subudhi said,
“This is the time for young entrepreneurs to create startups around traditional crops and processed local products. Uttarakhand’s indigenous crops and non-agricultural produce such as kanali, timla, and gucchi mushrooms can open up new avenues of livelihood and strengthen biodiversity through sustainable value chains,” he said.
Farmer Mohamad Alli narrated the origin story of Dehraduni Basmati, stating that in 1839, during the British-Afghan war, Afghan ruler Dost Mohammad Khan was exiled to Mussoorie. Missing the aroma of rice from his homeland, he had Basmati seeds sent from Afghanistan and planted them in the fertile Doon soil. The valley’s unique climate and soil transformed the grain into something even more fragrant, longer and tastier than the original — resulting in the creation of Dehraduni Basmati.
