Envis bulletin vol 12 1 - ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology

dwindle to a level as half a foot. There are two types of rice fields viz. permanently irrigated and
seasonal irrigated. The former is kept under water or at least in a very wet condition throughout the
year, and considered more valuable. Late variety of rice, locally called ‘Emo’ is the principal crop.
The other types of field are dried out and hardened soon after the harvest. These are cleared and dug
over every time before the cultivation and then water from the channels is allowed to flow over slowly
to make the soil loose from puddling. Early variety of rice is grown in these fields. The early variety
of rice had higher density but with reduced basal area compared to the late variety. Economic yield
per plant and per unit area of the early variety was significantly lower compared to the late variety.
Figure 2. A view of typical size and shape of paddy-cum-fish culture in diffusion
The valley having cultivated area of 2,703.91 ha is exclusively covered under local rice
variety where “Emo” occupies maximum area of 60% followed by Pysping (15%) and Pyat (10%)
giving an average yield of 5.2, 4.0 and 3.2 t/ha, respectively. These indigenous rice varieties have
very long duration of 190-278 days with and average of 220 days. Preparation of rice seedlings is
taken up after the celebration of Myoko festival in March. Nursery duration range 60-80 days. In the
middle of April, most of the fields are ready for transplantation. Each of the terraced plots is puddled
for 2 or 3 times with an interval of 3 to 4 days and properly irrigated. Single rice seedling
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E N V IS <strong>Centre</strong>, G B P IH E D