Selected traditional rice varieties
The traditional rice varieties have different characteristic features. Here are some of the main 5 traditional rice varieties in Sri Lanka.
Pachchaperumal
Pachchaperumal is a red rice variety and the grain is medium in size which is insensitive to photoperiod and 3 – 3.5 months maturity. The cultivated extent of Pachchaperumal in the year 2013 is around 607 ha. This is mainly cultivated in the Yala season and it produces an average grain yield of 30 -35 bushels per acre.
Suduru samba
Suduru samba is a white rice variety and the grains are very small and palatable. It is insensitive to photoperiod and has 3 – 3.5 months maturity. This variety is considered to have a comparative resistant against thrips and brown planthoppers. The harvesting period of Suduru samba varies depending on the season and the Yala season takes more time than the Maha season for harvesting. The height of the plant is around 180 cm and most of the time this plant lodges before harvesting due to the height of the plant. Suduru samba contains around 9 tillers. The average grain yield of this variety is around 50 bushels per acre.
Kalu heenati
Kalu heenati is a 3-3.5 months variety that consists of red colour medium-sized pericarp grains and this variety can grow in the dry zone. The culm of the rice plant is weak, and the height of the plant can reach up to 115- 120 cm. This variety shows a moderate resistivity against seedling thrips. It produces an average grain yield of 30 – 50 bushels per acre. The cultivation extent of Kalu heenati in the year 2013 is around 66 ha.
Herath Banda
Herath banda is a 3.5 months variety in which the height of the plant can reach up to 120-135 cm. The tiller number is low in this variety. This variety is more popular in the wet zone of the island. The average grain yield of this variety is around 45 –60 bushels per acre.
Beheth heenati
Beheth heenati is a 3.5 months variety and this variety shows a moderate height of 112- 115 cm. The tillering capacity of this variety is approximately around 10 tillers. Short round grains are produced by this variety. The harvesting period of this variety is shorter in Maha season than in Yala season. This variety is more popular in the south and west regions of the country. The grains are short and round and the average grain yield of this variety is 30 – 40 bushels per acre.
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