Rohit Sahu (46)is a farmer famous for identification and cultivation of green rice and organic farming in Chhattisgarh. He has keen interest in promoting organic farming and traditional crop varieties. He cultivates many traditional rice varieties using organic farming methods. He has developed the green rice varieties Kubri Mamhaniselection and Kamal through mass selection from traditional varieties of rice Kubri Mamhani and Ramtil respectively.

During 2012, he observed that some dark blackish grains of Kubri Mamhaniand Ramtil varieties produced green coloured kernel. Both the varieties were developed by selection of best seeds with desired traits of green kernels, high yield and aroma from the earlier known traditional varieties after continuous effortover 4-5 years. The characters of both the varieties were stabilized in 2016 and he startedmass multiplication of seeds 2017 onwards. The green colour of kernel, a very sensitive trait, is dependent on cultivation method, environmental condition and on hulling & milling practices.

The validation was facilitated by NIF- Indiaat Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur where it was reported that the farmer’s varieties performed better in terms of yield at both the test locations.On-farm trials at organic farmers’ field in Uttar Kannada, Karnataka and Imphal East, Manipur conducted to evaluate the performance and green colouration of kernels of the varieties, showed positive results. Both the varieties are being cultivated in over 50 acre of land in Durg district.