Now, in the plot she called the berna (low-lying land), which collects the most rain, Lakda continued to plant ‘Annapurna’, a modern hybrid variety of rice, which she referred as sarkaari dhaan (government rice). In the guda (upland), she had gone back to growing the crops of her ancestors – indigenous, or heirloom rice varieties called Kalamaliphool, Bahalguda, Lusri and Luhini.
The native seed varieties, which have survived several environmental vagaries in their evolutionary history do better in unpredictable weather and ensure food security, say farmers. They also help stave off the escalating costs of input-intensive modern hybrid varieties of rice. https://thewire.in/agriculture/grains-of-life-how-chotanagpurs-adivasis-are-reviving-native-varieties-of-rice