Native rice varieties are making a compelling case for themselves at the Rice Diversity Center in Kirugavalu in Malavalli Taluk of Mandya District, Karnataka.

Farmer Syed Ghani Khan has conserved 1300 native species of rice in his museum aptly called Rice Diversity Center. As a paddy conservator he is doing much to save heirloom species in the country.

For someone who always dreamt of opening his own museum, this course helped him complete his graduation and understand much about conservation techniques. The museum started in 2006 at his old home and has today moved to the Rice Diversity Center and has a whopping 1300 varieties of rice on display. There is also a live museum where visitors can visit the farm to see these variants growing.

Read the full story that first appeared on Whetstone Magazine here: