PANAJI
A farmer from Parra has successfully cultivated Jeera Sal, a lesser known and healthier variety of rice.
Speaking to The Goan, Shailesh Sirsat said he had brought around 10 kgs of Jeera Sal seeds from Dodamarg-Maharastra and cultivated them in his field of about 1,000 sq. mtrs.
“I am pleased that my experiment with this new variety has worked and I will cultivate this variety on a larger scale,” said Sirsat, while thanking officers at the Zonal Agricultural Department for their assistance.
Commending Shailesh Sirsat for cultivating the Jeera Sal variety of rice, Assistant Agriculture Officer Rudresh Kambli said Jeera Sal is an aromatic variety largely grown in Maharashtra and Kerala.
“The rich fibre content in this variety of rice helps in lowering LDL (bad cholesterol) and increases HDL (good cholesterol). The fibre content also helps to reduce obesity and helps in constipation,” said Kambli.
He informed that paddy in Bardez is cultivated in an area of about 3,800 hectares of land, with nearly 80 per cent plantation of the Jyoti variety of rice.
“The other varieties of rice are Jaya (15 per cent), while the remaining 5 per cent are of lesser known varieties of rice like like Karjat, Ghansal, Black rice and Jeera Sal,” said Kambli.
“Besides these varieties, the ICAR has developed new hybrid varieties like Goa Dhan 1, 2 and 3 etc. These varieties are also being successfully cultivated by farmers.”
Kambli said Goa has 28 traditional varieties of rice which are specific to its geographical area.
“Many of these varieties are on the verge of extinction. The agriculture department is making efforts to promote these varieties of rice,” he added.
