Bhubaneswar, Jan. 15: If farm or agriculture tourism could be a new concept to provide a new experience to the travellers, then the Jeypore tract, famous for their variety of rice varieties could open up new avenues to attract tourists from all over the world.

The Jeypore valley in Koraput will be the most sought after destination as it has received the honour from the Food and Agriculture Organisation as among the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.

The heritage systems may not mean so much to the local tribal people, but if properly positioned in the tourism map of the world, the Jeypore valley could invite a major footfall from the foreign nations as it nests one of world’s oldest rice varieties as some strains as old as 3,000 years. Two tribal representatives from Koraput received the organisation’s recognition at the inaugural session of the 99th Indian Science Congress in the city, but perhaps with the efforts of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, the dream project on rice genome could get such a world-wide acclaim.

The recognition for a agricultural heritage site also comes with six major characteristics — high-levels of biodiversity that play key roles in regulating ecosystem functioning and also in providing ecosystem services of local and global significance, agro-ecosystems nurtured by traditional knowledge systems and farmers’ innovations, local systems of biodiversity, land and water resources conservation and management, contribution towards livelihood security, coping with climate change risks and promoting cultural and tourism values and ideas.

With Koraput being a store house of nature’s bounties, the new honour will be an asset in putting the region’s claim over a possible farm or agri-tourism destination as only 17 places in the world are recognised before the traditional agriculture systems of Koraput in Odisha. The other sites in the premier league include Andean agriculture (Peru), Chiole agriculture (Chile), Ifugao rice terraces (Philippines), Oasis of Gafsa (Tunisia), High Atlas mountain oasis (Morocco), El-Oued oasis (Algeria), Rice-fish agriculture (China), Wannian traditional rice culture and tea forest and tea gardens (China), Quanat irrigation system (Iran), Massai pastoral system (Kenya), Massai pastoral system (Tanzania), Noto,Sotoyama and Satoumi agricultural system in Japan, Sado agricultural practices in Japan, Ancient tank system in Sri Lanka and Lemon Gardens of the Amalfi coast (Italy).

Executive director of the foundation Ajay Parida says: “The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems conservation approach allows farmers to continue nurturing and adapting local methods while earning a living, supports government policies and incentives, crystallises the need for conservation of genetic resources and cultural diversity and it has tremendous potential to become a tourist destination as done in other agriculturally heritage system sites across the world.”

Anthropological studies reveal that tribal communities not only represent an extremely important category of the Indian social structure, but also carries forward a rich and distinct cultural legacy. Koraput alone is home to 62 tribal communities which belong to Proto-Australoid ethnic stock and speak their own language. Each tribe possesses its distinct identity in terms of social organisation, culture and economy.

“The recognition of Koraput as a agriculturally heritage site will definitely boost its tourism potential. The honour is just like declaration of a world heritage site by Unesco. It is just like the famous Sun Temple of Konark on the Odisha coast, as the agricultural heritage sites are concerned. It is a great honour for the local people as they though sustainable agricultural practices could preserve the traditional practices and conserve the plant diversity for ages,” adds Parviz Koohakkan, director of land and water division of the organisation in Rome.

City-based ecologist Prasad Dash feels the Koraput experience has opened up new avenues to explore the rich anthropogenic and plant biodiversities. But, now policy planners and the authorities in charge of promoting tourism should soon try to get the new ideas into action.

Prof. Swapan Kumar Datta, deputy director general (crop sciences) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research suggests that there is a vast hope for agriculture-based tourism. On the other hand, the farmers of Koraput have adopted an indigenous variety called kalajeera and the community is busy on its promotion. With the cooperation of the research foundation they are planning to conserve and propagate two more rice varieties such as haldi chudi and machha kanta for mass production and marketing.

The Jeypore tract in Koraput is a highland plateau with a number of hills and hillocks of incredible scenic beauty forming part of the Eastern Ghats. The district is divided into four natural areas: The Central plateau of over 900 metres on which the Koraput district is situated, the 600-metre plateau on which Malkangiri is situated and the valley and hill ranges of Rayagada and Gunupur sub-divisions.

Scientifically, the traditional varieties of Jeypore is not only an oldest centre of origin for rice, but other plant varieties of the region also have dominant genes for biotic and abiotic stress, aroma and palatability. They will also play a great role in the future plant genetics research and development around the world. Many varieties of traditional agricultural practices: minor millets (finger millet, little millet), pulses (black gram, green gram, pigeon pea, cow pea), oil seeds (niger, sesame, castor, mustard), spices (ginger and turmeric) and various indigenous vegetables and fruits are also there which are unique in the entire world.