Source: North East Press Service
Kohima Jan 27 (NEPS):
The Guinness World Record holder and the recipient of the Governor�s Gold Medal 2002, Pastor Melhite Kenye of Chumukedima for
his discovery of the tallest paddy plant in the world, has been honored by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Nagaland
by conferring him a �Certificate of Appreciation� along with cash amounting to Rs 25,000 (twenty five) thousand here in Local
Ground in a closing function of the two-day Agri Fair today.
The �Certificate of Appreciation� and the cash amounting to
Rs 25,000 (twenty five) thousand was given to Pastor Kenye by Chief Guest, Zhaleo Rio, Deputy
Commissioner, Kohima, in recognition of the former�s contribution to the �farming community of Nagaland.�
It may be mentioned that Pastor Kenye had discovered the world�s tallest paddy species on October 1, 1998 from inside a
jungle of Chumukedima.
The paddy had a record height of eight and half feet, 175 tillers and 510 grains in each ear and the
single stalk of the plant was as big as human finger and semi-woody nature.
Since then, Pastor kept experimenting on the new
found species by cultivating few plants in a small patch of land in the Church compound.
His recent tested species broke
earlier record by producing 240 tillers, eight and half-foot height, 340 grains in each ear and the total grains from the
single plant was 1 kg and 182 grams.
His discovered paddy plant was later recognized by the Guinness World Records, London
in December 2001 as the tallest paddy in the world and latter Governor�s Medal in 2002 in recognition of his distinguished
service to the State by discovering the same.