Wetland Watch. 3. Paddyfield Wetlands Naturally Producing Medicinal Plant (Brahmi Shak) in Canning Block-II, West Bengal

Rice fields are specialized temporary man-made wetlands, often used in paddy-cum-fish culture, especially in low-lying lands of North and South 24-Parganas districts in West Bengal. In the course of field surveys on wetland economics and livelihood dependency on wetland biodiversity during monsoon season in 2015, it was found that local marginal farmers of Fisherypara village under Jeevantala Gram Panchayat of Canning Block II, South 24-Parganas district, West Bengal were found largely engaged in gathering Brahmi shak, Bacopa monnieri (L) from rice fields due to scarcity of rain that season.