Til Bahadur Rawal of Chandannath-9 in the district has been active in the conservation of Marsi rice for a decade. A few years ago, when Marsi rice was affected by the blight disease, he picked 100 pods and used them as seeds. The disease has not been seen in the Marsi rice he planted by collecting such disease-free pods.

‘We only see disease in Marsi rice,’ he said, ‘But, we do not care that pods are found in disease-affected fields.’ His efforts to collect pods that have survived the disease and make seeds have been successful. He has named such rice Triyasi. Now, he has taken the seeds to farmers in his neighboring villages.

He said that the infection of the disease can be reduced by going to cultivation when the blight disease is constantly seen in Jumli Marsi rice. Marsi has been considered a rice variety that is not resistant to diseases because it is an old seed. He stressed the need to eliminate the use of pesticides in rice. ‘When selecting rice seeds, you should choose plump grains,’ he said, ‘it is appropriate if the farmer cultivates them himself with awareness.’ After the spread of the disease, the Agricultural Research Center, Vijayanagar, has recommended three types of improved rice varieties, Chandannath 1 and 3, and Lekali 1. Farmers are also cultivating this rice as the recommended rice variety is suitable for the current climate.’

Til Bahadur argues that the cultivation of Marsi, which grows at the highest altitudes in the world, should not be stopped. ‘Marsi rice is becoming more valuable, and traditional beliefs are even more important,’ he said, ‘that is why we should not stop cultivating Marsi.’ The Agricultural Research Center has been researching the disease in Marsi rice for a long time. Experts have been saying that preparations are being made to recommend Marsi rice as an alternative to Marsi rice for some time.

The District Agricultural Development Office is bringing a program to promote Marsi rice, taking into account the efforts made by farmers to save Marsi rice. Office Information Officer Deepak Singh Dhami says that various efforts are being made to save Marsi rice. Currently, rice is being cultivated on 2,888 hectares in the district. Half of which is Marsi rice. Last year alone, 6,125 metric tons of rice were produced. Of which 265 metric tons of Marsi rice were sent outside the district.

Currently, Marsi rice is being sent from Jumla to cities including Kathmandu, Surkhet, Nepalgunj, Butwal, Chitwan, Biratnagar and Pokhara. Marsi rice is being bought and sold by setting up Koseli houses even in the local market. The price is Rs 180 per kg. Tourists visiting Karnali take it as a snack. That is why farmers are demanding that initiatives be taken to save Marsi rice seeds. According to the Agriculture Office, the Jumli Marsi Rice Production Special Model Area Program has been started in the current fiscal year. The program has been implemented in Chandannath Municipality, Tatopani, Hima and Sinja Rural Municipality of the district. An allocation of Rs 850,000 has been made for this. According to this program, activities ranging from training farmers on rice cultivation to measures to protect rice crops from diseases have been included. Information Officer Dhami said that a program has also been started to establish and develop Marsi rice seed production resource centers in Patarasi and Tatopani Rural Municipality. One million rupees has been allocated for this. In this program, seeds are provided to farmers, seat bins, tarpaulins, mini-tilers, thresher machines, organic fertilizer production and even a combine mill are being established.