Nalanda Rice Paddy Cultivation Ancient Knowledge Bihar

Nalanda district's alluvial plains along the Son and Falgu river systems support rice paddy cultivation that has continued for millennia — Nalanda University's ancient texts describe rice varieties and agricultural practices of the Bihar plains. Modern farmers in Nalanda grow MTU 7029 and Rajendra Mahsuri varieties in transplanted paddy systems irrigated by the Son Canal, harvesting in October for sale at Nalanda and Biharsharif mandis. The district's historic importance as an intellectual centre has inspired agro-biodiversity conservation programmes that document traditional paddy varieties maintained by seed-saving farmers in villages adjacent to the ancient university ruins.