Saving an ancient rice grown on the roof of the World

Professor John Witcombe has been working with the National Rice Research Programme in Nepal, to develop three new disease-resistant varieties of rice which are soon to be made available to local farmers and smallholders. The work ensures the continued use of a historically and culturally significant indigenous rice, which is believed to have originated some 550 years ago.

Jumli Marshi rice grows 3,050 metres above sea level in far western Nepal. This is the highest altitude at which rice can be grown anywhere in the world. The rice is rich in fibre, proteins and minerals such as iron, calcium and phosphorous.

However, in recent years the strain has been susceptible to a major plant disease, blast fungus. This has meant that farmers have had to switch to other crops.

Prof Witcombe has been sharing his expertise in plant breeding by working with indigenous farmers and consumers, to introduce characteristics that they themselves feel are important. The farmers test the trial varieties by growing them on their own plots of land. This method of plant breeding ensures that new varieties are highly adapted to local conditions and preferences of local farmers, and in turn, improves their adoption and spread among the farming community. Jumli Marshi is also the first variety in Nepal to be in advanced farmer trials in Nepal that has been bred using DNA markers. These markers were developed by scientists at Bangor University (Katherine Steele and John Witcombe of the University’s School of Natural Sciences) in collaboration with a UK commercial partner.

This is the culmination of 13 years’ work in collaboration with Nepalese rice breeder Resham Amgai who has led the work in Nepal, The native Jumli Marshi has a cold-tolerant gene that allows it to thrive in cold temperate conditions and its eating quality has made it a much loved and profitable variety. It was so disappointing for local farmers that it was becoming susceptible to disease.

What we have done is to introduce a disease resistance gene into Jumli Marshi from a variety first released in the Philippines in 1985, to develop three disease resistant versions of this much appreciated variety. The farmers of Jumla have been lobbying to preserve the local variety and this development has been welcomed by the local community.  A disease resistant Jumli Marshi will be a game changer for farmers in this challenging high-altitude rice growing environment.

- Prof John Witcombe , Emeritus Professor, School of Natural Sciences

“Jumli Marshi is nutritious and tasty as well," said local, Raj Bahadur Mahat.