Scientific classification of traditional rice in Sri Lanka
Documentary evidence reveals that paddy cultivation existed in Sri Lanka as early as 800 BC. This paddy cultivation was not only an economic activity but also a means of livelihood. Ancient ancestors used the names hereditary, indigenous, and ancestral object to describe the varieties of paddy.
Popularly known as the Oriental Granary of Asia, Sri Lanka has introduced over 2000 varieties of indigenous rice to the world. Paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka is revered and the veracity of this process is proved by the production strategies and the sanctity associated with the production process.
However, European migration between the 16th and 18th centuries focused on crop cultivation, and again in the 20th century on paddy cultivation. However, with the growth of the population, the use of chemical fertilizers was introduced in the 1930s to increase the yield with H grade paddy varieties. As a result, the average paddy yield in 1950 increased from 0.65 metric tons / ha to 1.73 metric tons / ha.
In the process, the nation lost a large amount of glutamic acid, high concentrations of vitamins, fiber and low glycemic index, which were present in many Sri Lankan traditional rice varieties due to the use of chemical fertilizers.
Since 1980, 90% of the cultivated land has been cultivated with a new type of paddy called semi-dwarf. Today 95% of paddy production in Sri Lanka is hybrid. Chemicals, inorganic fertilizers and pesticides are used in the production of these hybrids with the aim of obtaining higher yields at lower prices. But in the current global trend, the benefits of using organic fertilizers, the risks in agrochemicals and pesticides, and the pre-colonial fitness and longevity of people have been re-focused on traditional rice.
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