New Delhi, June 9 -- The women of Chizami village in Nagaland's Phek district are guardians of 156 traditional seed varieties - from rice, millets and maize to beans, vegetables, herbs and tubers.

These are conserved in the Chizami Community Seed bank managed by the Chizami Women Society, with support from the Northeast Network (NEN).

The collection includes over 40 varieties of rice, each suited to different altitudes and temperatures.

Chizami Ru is a deep red rice that grows well in colder areas and is known for its strong stem and long shelf life. It is often used during community feasts. Kechu Ru, a black rice variety, is valued for its medicinal properties and is boiled into sweet sticky rice pudding during festivals.

Tura Ru,...