Field Report #4: Western Dooars Part II
- Éloïse
- Jun 30
- 19 min read
Updated: Jul 7
Introduction
We’ve entered the Jaldhaka corridor of the Western Dooars, a densely populated lowland tract on the eastern banks of the Jaldhaka river as it progresses towards the Brahmaputra river. Our zone of survey Stretches east from Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary through Sukhanibasti, Nagrakata, Looksan, Banarhat before reaching Madarihat near the boundary of Jaldapara National Park and eventually, the Torsha river, which forms the western edge of the Jaldhaka corridor. Elevation remains below 250m across this zone, with relief confined to levees and eroded fringes along river channels and plantation margins. The corridor forms part of the Duars-Terai alluvial belt, marked by deep, moisture-retentive soils shaped by the monsoon-driven flows of the Jaldhaka river and its tributaries.
This zone is defined by an intricate overlay of tea monoculture, transportation infrastructure, and densely clustered settlement. Paved roads, rail lines, and irrigation channels weave through expansive tea estates, punctuated by villages and small market towns arrayed at regular intervals along the main transport spine. Household compounds typically back onto narrow garden plots, livestock enclosures, or strips of semi-wild vegetation lining waterways and field edges. Beyond these nuclei, smallholder gardens support a diverse range of subsistence crops including rice, aubergines, gourds, legumes, maize, chillies, turmeric, tobacco, and jute cultivated in compact, seasonal rotations around tightly bounded homesteads. The corridor’s land use patterns are shaped equally by plantation-era settlement history and the hydrological dynamics of the Jaldhaka and its tributaries.
Ecologically, the corridor falls within the lowland moist deciduous zone of the central Duars, bounded by several protected areas that shape both landscape structure and patterns of disturbance. To the west lies Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, characterised by sal (Shorea robusta) forests and dense mid-storey vegetation along the Jaldhaka River. To the east, Jaldapara National Park encompasses grasslands and riverine forests critical for megafauna habitats, while the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary lies further south, buffering the plains and Himalayan foothills. Despite these reserves, forest cover within the surveyed corridor itself is highly fragmented, surviving mainly along riverbanks, irrigation canals and neglected plantation margins. Residual patches are dominated by sal, accompanied by Terminalia alata, Syzygium cumini, Albizia lebbeck, and scattered bamboo thickets. Outside forest remnants, groundcover is dominated by seasonal crops, ruderal herbs and grasses, forming a patchwork shaped by intensive land use, periodic flooding and plantation management regimes.
The demographic fabric of the corridor reflects a complex blend of precolonial settlement and colonial-era plantation migration. Santhal, Munda, Oraon, and other Adivasi communities remain concentrated within tea estate housing lines, where livelihoods are closely tied to plantation labour and estate-controlled land. Nepali-speaking populations are widespread across village settlements and tea garden margins, maintaining mixed subsistence plots, livestock, and small-scale commerce. Rajbanshi communities form a significant presence in the lowlands, particularly in agricultural belts outside the immediate plantation zones, where they engage in both settled cultivation and wage labour. Rabha and Bodo populations are also present, especially along forest edges and transitional landscapes, practising agroforestry, shifting cultivation, and seasonal tea work. Further north, Lepcha and smaller Bhutia populations appear in pockets toward the Bhutan border, while the Toto maintain a highly localised presence near Totopara, though their overall numbers remain small.
Urban and market centres such as Banarhat and Madarihat host a diverse mix of Bengali-speaking populations, Marwari merchant communities and other migrant groups connected to trade, transport and administrative services. Land tenure throughout the corridor is diverse and fragmented, comprising private leaseholds, informal settlements, state lands, and estate-owned housing and infrastructure.
Cannabis in this zone was documented across a relatively narrow but ecologically varied range of contexts:
Feral Populations Feral cannabis was observed at multiple sites, including gravel verges, canal margins, drainage ditches, abandoned buildings, and roadside embankments. Most populations were located in heavily disturbed areas receiving partial to full sun. However, one population was documented within a shaded forest interior zone deep inside Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, far removed from visible human activity. Across sites, population density ranged from scattered individuals to dense stands numbering in the hundreds. Morphological variation was moderate to high, with several early-seeding individuals displaying strong lateral branching, narrow leaflets, and moderate to high resin production. Terpene expression varied by site, including citrus-dominant, skunk-forward, and medicinal profiles. Seed maturity was generally advanced, allowing for viable collections.
Domesticate Landrace Populations Cultivated cannabis was encountered in low-visibility household contexts, typically behind structures or at garden peripheries. In most cases, plants were described by growers as having been grown from seed sourced via local ganja, rather than from retained or selected lines. Several individuals exhibited domesticate-type traits, including increased biomass, upright growth habit, and distinctive stem aromas. No evidence of systematic selection or line maintenance was observed. Cultivation appeared opportunistic and small-scale, embedded within diversified household plots.
Hidden Commercial Landrace Cultivation No commercial plots were directly encountered during this phase. However, consistent testimony from interlocutors in Looksan and Banarhat described the presence of concealed cultivation zones along riverbanks, fallow estate land, and forest-adjacent peripheries. These sites were said to supply local black-market demand and to follow harvest cycles oriented around monsoon constraints. While no product was accessed, and no planting sites were confirmed, the convergence of multiple reports points to ongoing, if inaccessible, production.
This segment yielded twelve accessions across five locations. Cannabis populations documented here were shaped by human disturbance, spatial constraints, law enforcement pressure and informal seed sourcing, with the single forest-interior accession from Chapramari representing a possible exception to the broader pattern.
Chapramari
We woke to steady rain in Chisang, low clouds pouring over the ridge lines and soaking the narrow mountain roads. After packing our gear, we began the long descent into the plains, navigating wet hairpins flanked by dense forest and slick rock faces. By late morning, we reached Gairibas Viewpoint, where the rain eased enough for us to stop under a roadside tea stall, dry out our clothes, and charge our devices.
Once conditions improved, we continued eastward, following the main road out of the hills toward the forest corridor of Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. Entering the sanctuary, we rode a narrow, gravelled service track that wound deeper under the canopy, where sal (Shorea robusta) and associated species formed dense mid-storey vegetation and occasional open glades.
A small but distinct feral cannabis population was identified growing near the road, on the margins of a seasonal stream under partial canopy. The population consisted of scattered individuals and loose clusters, extending along a ~300m section of disturbed understory. No signs of planting or recent human activity were observed at the site.
Plants averaged 1.5–2.5m in height, with upright growth, narrow leaflets, and visible resin accumulation on bracts. Floral onset was advanced and seed maturity was sufficient to permit viable collection. Stem rubs released strong citrus-forward terpenes, consistent with our previous observations in this zone. No obvious pest damage or pathogen pressure was noted, though several butterfly cocoons were noticed. These plants seem to be from the same genotype found in Sipchu and the Kalimpong range.
Seed was collected from three locations along the population’s range, forming the following accessions:
Chapramari Feral General Population Accession #1
Genetics: Kalimpong Range Feral
Type: Point of Origin, Open Pollinated
Style: Feral
Sourcing: Éloïse, Iza (2025)
Village(s): N/A
District: Jalpaiguri
Province: West Bengal
Area: Western Dooars
Region: Dooars
Appellation: Chapramari
Country: India
Cultivation Details:
Regional Planting: Self-seeding
Regional Harvest: June through October
Height: 1.5–2.5m
Classification: Feral Cannabis population
Chapramari Feral General Population Accession #2
Genetics: Kalimpong Range Feral
Type: Point of Origin, Open Pollinated
Style: Feral
Sourcing: Éloïse, Iza (2025)
Village(s): N/A
District: Jalpaiguri
Province: West Bengal
Area: Western Dooars
Region: Dooars
Appellation: Chapramari
Country: India
Chapramari Feral General Population Accession #3
Genetics: Kalimpong Range Feral
Type: Point of Origin, Open Pollinated
Style: Feral
Sourcing: Éloïse, Iza (2025)
Village(s): N/A
District: Jalpaiguri
Province: West Bengal
Area: Western Dooars
Region: Dooars
Appellation: Chapramari
Country: India
Once we had completed our accessions in Chapramari, we packed our gear and continued eastward, following the narrow forest road out of the sanctuary. Dense forest gradually giving way to patches of open light as we approached the Jaldhaka River crossing. The river was running high from recent rains, its channels braided around gravel banks and driftwood. Crossing over a narrow bridge, we left the forest edge behind and entered flatter terrain marked by tea estate boundaries and small roadside settlements. From there, we continued toward Sukhanibasti, watching for signs of cannabis along the roadside verges and drainage margins as we rode.
Sukhanibasti
Approaching Sukhanibasti from the Jaldhaka crossing, we entered a narrow ribbon of roadside houses and small shops spread along a low rise at roughly 200–220m elevation. The village felt compressed between plantation boundaries and drainage corridors, its main paved road flanked by footpaths slipping into dense vegetation and overgrown estate margins. Slower traffic and clusters of pedestrians signalled the transition into a residential zone. At the village centre, unmanaged strips of greenery traced irrigation lines and neglected plots, forming quiet spaces where feral cannabis sometimes establishes beyond regular notice.
A mature female cannabis plant was initially observed growing on the boundary of a household garden near the village centre. The plant exhibited dense floral development, upright branching, and visible resin accumulation. Shortly after we stopped to photograph the plant, we were approached by the nephew of the homeowner, a young Nepali-speaking man, who explained that it had been grown from seed sourced in local ganja. He described it as a personal project and clarified that no selection or intentional breeding had been carried out. Aroma profiles were petrochemical, bandage-like and medicinal.
Behind the compound, a small feral population was identified growing in an unmanaged drainage margin. Several male and female plants were scattered along the overgrown bank.
The originally observed individual bore close resemblance in morphology and stem aroma to the surrounding feral plants, though it was significantly more developed in floral density and mass.
We collected seeds from it to constitute the following accession:
Sukhanibasti Feral Accession #1
Genetics: Western Dooars Feral
Type: Point of Origin, Open Pollinated
Style: Feral
Sourcing: Éloïse, Iza (2025)
Village(s): Sukhanibasti
District: Jalpaiguri
Province: West Bengal
Area: Western Dooars
Region: Dooars
Appellation: Sukhanibasti
Country: India
Cultivation Details:
Regional Planting: Self-seeding
Regional Harvest: June through October
Height: 1.5–2.5m
Classification: Feral population
Once our documentation was complete, the grower invited us to sit for tea in the shade of his courtyard. Over steaming cups, he spoke openly about local cultivation practices, explaining that while most villagers maintained only small household plots, significant commercial grows existed deeper inside the tea gardens near the Bhutan border. He described these sites as concealed among estate lands and riverine clearings, difficult to locate without local guidance. His information aligned with rumours we’d heard earlier in the trip. Intrigued by his account and hoping to trace these hidden cultivation zones, we decided to continue our route in that direction, aiming to reach Nagrakata and beyond before weather or daylight closed in.
Nagrakata
After leaving Sukhanibasti, we continued east along the main highway, passing stretches of tea gardens and small roadside clusters of fruit sellers and mechanics’ sheds. The road widened as we approached Nagrakata, a market town located about 20 kilometres northwest of Banarhat and sitting at around 190 metres elevation.
Nagrakata serves as a local centre for trade and administration, anchored by rows of permanent shopfronts, small eateries, and a modest railway station connecting the New Jalpaiguri-Alipurduar line. The town’s economy revolves around tea, with numerous estates in the surrounding area and a local office of the Tea Research Association situated nearby.
Beyond the central bazaar, Nagrakata extends into quiet residential lanes, government buildings, and link roads leading outward toward estate housing lines and agricultural plots. Irrigation channels and drainage corridors run alongside the roads, creating patches of unmanaged vegetation where feral plants occasionally take root. The flow of people: traders, plantation workers, schoolchildren, and shopkeepers gives the town a steady energy, even outside market days.
We arrived under threatening skies, our attention split between navigating traffic and scanning roadside verges for signs of cannabis as we entered the edges of the town.
A small but vigorous feral cannabis population was first observed in central Nagrakata, growing roadside near the main intersection in town. The population consisted of approximately 15–20 plants scattered across rubble, walls, and drainage lines. Several female plants were in flower and had reached approximately 1.5–2.2m in height. Terpene profile was skunk-forward with faint acrid base notes. Resin production was moderate, and morphology included upright growth, narrow leaflets, and strong apical dominance. Given the site’s high visibility and its immediate proximity to a police booth, no seed collection was attempted. Photographs were taken discreetly and no residents were approached.
Further accessions were made on the outskirts of a smaller settlement north of the main town. Here, a large feral population was identified along the roadside bordering an abandoned lot and a small cluster of residential buildings. The stand included both male and female individuals, many of which were in late flowering stage. Floral structures were dense with high seed set. Heights ranged from 1.2–2.5m, and plants showed upright structure with narrow leaf morphology. Stem rubs released strong skunk and burnt rubber aromas with occasional pine and solvent notes. Resin presence was moderate.
Local residents approached during documentation. Most declined to speak, but one adolescent girl who spoke fluent English offered assistance and without being asked stripped pollen sacks from a nearby male and added them to the seed pile. This material was later removed. While photographing, we observed several tea workers with spray tanks moving through nearby tea rows; one worker sprayed the base of the cannabis plants we were photographing while walking past.
Despite this, multiple viable seed-bearing females remained and were used to form the following accession:
Nagrakata Feral General Population Accession #1
Genetics: Western Dooars Feral
Type: Point of Origin, Open Pollinated
Style: Feral
Sourcing: Éloïse, Iza (2025)
Village(s): Outskirts of Nagrakata
District: Jalpaiguri
Province: West Bengal
Area: Western Dooars
Region: Dooars
Appellation: Nagrakata
Country: India
Cultivation Details:
Regional Planting: Self-seeding
Regional Harvest: June through October
Height: 1.2–2.5m
Classification: Feral population
With rain clouds gathering again and our device batteries running low despite the earlier stop in Gairibas, we wrapped up our documentation in Nagrakata. Satisfied with the accessions we’d secured, we loaded our gear and set off toward Grassmore, hoping to cover more ground before the weather closed in entirely.
Grassmore
Departing from Nagrakata amid the afternoon haze, we followed a gravel-lined secondary road southwest, entering Grassmore around 180–200 m elevation. Located within the Nagrakata block, Grassmore comprises a mix of active tea estates like Grassmore Tea Garden and patches of worker housing. The landscape unfolds as gently undulating fields framed by estate access routes and intermittent irrigation lines. As we wound through this corridor, we noted sparse pedestrian traffic and occasional clusters of tea pluckers, with roadside verges offering open glimpses into the surrounding plantations.
A distinct feral cannabis population was observed just past the intersection in the center of the block, growing along a dirt road flanking a disused municipal structure. The surrounding environment consisted of overgrown vegetation, gravel shoulders, and drainage ditches bordered by flowering grasses and weedy species. Cannabis individuals appeared scattered but clustered in proximity to each other, forming a loose population across a ~200m stretch.
Plants ranged in height from 1.8–3m, with some of the tallest individuals observed during this survey phase. Floral development was mid to late stage, with visible resin on bracts and partial seed set. Morphologically, the plants showed narrow leaflets, sturdy main stalks, and upright internodal stacking. Stem rubs revealed moderately pungent aromas, skunk and diesel dominant with faint notes of citrus and dried mango in several individuals. While signs of past human use of the area were evident, there were no indications of cannabis having been cultivated, maintained, or recently interfered with.
Seed was collected from two of the healthiest and most mature females to form the following accession:
Grassmore Feral General Population Accession #1
Genetics: Western Dooars Feral
Type: Point of Origin, Open Pollinated
Style: Feral
Sourcing: Éloïse, Iza (2025)
Village(s): Grassmore
District: Jalpaiguri
Province: West Bengal
Area: Western Dooars
Region: Dooars
Appellation: Grassmore
Country: India
Cultivation Details:
Regional Planting: Self-seeding
Regional Harvest: June through October
Height: 1.8–3m
Classification: Feral population
With our documentation in Grassmore complete and the weather still cooperating, we secured our samples and loaded our gear back onto the bike. The afternoon light was already beginning to soften as we set out eastward, aiming for Looksan. The road ahead traced a path through stretches of tea gardens and occasional roadside shops, carrying us closer toward the next segment of the survey.
Looksan
After departing Grassmore, we continued east along the main road, passing stretches of tea estates and occasional roadside shops. Looksan lies west of the Deana River at around 190–200 metres elevation. The settlement is dispersed, with clusters of residential compounds linked by narrow lanes feeding into adjacent tea estate infrastructure. Land use in the area consists of a patchwork of household plots, tea garden peripheries, rice paddies and open ground. During our arrival, traffic on the main road was light and the settlement appeared quiet, with only sporadic movement of estate workers and local residents.
Our first observation in Looksan was a mixed cannabis stand growing along the edge of a household garden adjacent to a small dhaba. The population comprised several mature feral plants in late flowering, interspersed with tall domesticate individuals still in vegetative stage. The owner of the garden, an elderly Bengali-speaking man, confirmed that the larger plants had been intentionally planted using seed from local ganja while the smaller flowering individuals had emerged without deliberate sowing.
He invited us to enter the garden, where he described the other crops under cultivation, including maize, turmeric and Dalle Khursani (Red Cherry Pepper) chillies. After expressing interest in the chillies, we were invited to sit and share tea and a chillum made with local ganja and tobacco leaf. During the chillum session, I sampled fresh chillies, resulting in intense perspiration, tearing and nasal discharge while attempting to remain composed and continue the discussion. The grower described his planting practices, seed sourcing, and general perspectives on cannabis cultivation in the area. He advised that seeds would be available at harvest in approximately three months.
Prior to departing the site, we collected seed from the ripe feral plants along the garden perimeter. These individuals exhibited typical Western Dooars feral traits: 1.2–3m in height, upright structure, narrow leaflets, good resin production and aromatic profiles combining skunk-forward and medicinal notes.
Looksan Feral General Population Accession #1
Genetics: Western Dooars Feral
Type: Point of Origin, Open Pollinated
Style: Feral
Sourcing: Éloïse, Iza (2025)
Village(s): Looksan
District: Jalpaiguri
Province: West Bengal
Area: Western Dooars
Region: Dooars
Appellation: Looksan
Country: India
Cultivation Details:
Regional Planting: Self-seeding
Regional Harvest: June through October
Height: 1.2–2m
Classification: Feral & Domesticate Landrace mixed population
Immediately after exiting the site and turning onto the road, we noticed a second stand across from the garden, this time consisting of several dozen large domesticate-type cannabis plants growing behind a shed.
These individuals reached 3–4m in height and exhibited extreme vigour, dense branching, and tight internodal spacing despite still being in early pre-flower. Terpenes were sweet and melon-forward, reminiscent of honeydew with subtle floral undertones. The growers were initially shy but confirmed the plants were theirs and again invited us to return at harvest for seeds.
They offered us a few seeds. Given the developmental stage, the plants appeared to be at least three months from harvest.
Looksan Domesticate Landrace Accession #1
Genetics: Western Dooars Landrace
Type: Point of Origin, Open Pollinated
Style: Domesticate
Sourcing: Éloïse, Iza (2025)
Village(s): Looksan
District: Jalpaiguri
Province: West Bengal
Area: Western Dooars
Region: Dooars
Appellation: Looksan
Country: India
Cultivation Details:
Regional Planting: March through July
Regional Harvest: October through December
Height: 3.0–4.5m
Classification: Domesticate population
Based on structure, vigor and height, this second stand represents the most promising domesticate population observed during this phase of the survey. A return later in the season is planned to complete accessions and conduct follow-up interviews with cultivators.
Given time constraints and strong visual overlap with previously documented material, we did not document additional gardens in Looksan, despite spotting a number of feral and cultivated individuals further into the village zone. We were advised that further promising populations could be found around the tea estate zones flanking the Deana River near the Bhutan border. We proceeded in that direction.
Deana
Crossing westward over the Deana River, we entered a tea estate zone comprising dense, highly disturbed undergrowth, plantation infrastructure and a fragmented patchwork of household gardens and fields. Elevation remained ~190–210m. The surveyed area lay just inside the plantation boundary, adjacent to a drainage channel running parallel to the road, near a transitional edge between the tea fields and open unmanaged terrain used for grazing cattle.
A feral cannabis population of several hundred individuals was observed growing across the margin and drainage corridor. This was one of the densest feral populations encountered during this survey segment. Plants were scattered over an estimated 400m² area, occupying banks, ditches and shallow soil pockets along the boundary of the tea fields.
Individuals ranged from 1.2–2m, with squat, bushy forms and lateral branching denser than typically observed in feral plants elsewhere in the Dooars. Leaflets were narrow, with deeply serrated margins and floral onset was well advanced, with mature seed development in multiple individuals. Terpene profiles were distinct: strong, acrid, and medicinal - dominated by skunky, rubbery notes with undertones of eucalyptus and chemical solvent. Resin was visibly abundant on bracts of larger females.
We documented the two healthiest clusters and collected seeds from ripe individuals forming the following accession:
Deana Feral General Population Accession #1
Genetics: Western Dooars Feral
Type: Point of Origin, Open Pollinated
Style: Feral
Sourcing: Éloïse, Iza (2025)
Village(s): N/A
District: Jalpaiguri
Province: West Bengal
Area: Western Dooars
Region: Dooars
Appellation: Deana River
Country: India
Cultivation Details:
Regional Planting: Self-seeding
Regional Harvest: June through October
Height: 1.2–2m
Classification: Feral population
During documentation, a group of local men approached and began interacting with the plants, including vigorously rubbing several plants though it became apparent they were unfamiliar with actual rubbing practice. They expressed enthusiasm but limited substantive knowledge of cultivation or processing. They did, however, confirm that large-scale, hidden ganja plantations existed deeper in the tea garden zone and recommended Banarhat as a known hub for higher-quality ganja.
With skies clear enough but our remaining battery power dwindling, we packed away our samples and notes and decided to push onward toward Banarhat via Lakhipara. The road ahead promised more tea gardens and potential survey sites, and we hoped to cover as much ground as possible before the weather shifted again.
Banarhat via Lakhipara
From the Deana River, we continued westward toward Banarhat, following roads that wound through the Lakhipara tea estate. The route held steady at around 200 metres elevation, passing through a landscape dominated by orderly rows of tea bushes interspersed with shade trees. Small clusters of estate worker housing and local shops appeared intermittently along the roadside, their painted facades and corrugated roofs visible between gaps in the plantation. Traffic was sparse, limited mainly to workers on foot or bicycles and a few estate vehicles transporting harvested tea. The road surface alternated between paved sections and rougher gravel stretches, with drainage channels tracing the edges and occasional views opening onto the broader plantation blocks. As we travelled, the light began to shift, signalling the approach of late afternoon, though the sky remained mercifully clear for the moment.
Within the plantation village itself, we briefly stopped upon spotting a single, well-developed domesticate cannabis plant growing discreetly between two residential buildings. The plant stood approximately 2 meters tall and appeared healthy, exhibiting robust upright branching, moderately dense foliage, and clear signs of early floral development. No local residents were present at the time, and due to the plant’s proximity to private housing, we chose to document it briefly without further engagement or seed collection.
Continuing westward, we reached the outskirts of Banarhat, where we observed approximately a dozen domesticate-type cannabis plants located behind a small roadside shack adjacent to a substantial private residence. These individuals were exceptionally large and vigorous, ranging from 3 to 4 meters in height, with sturdy basal stems, dense lateral branching, and excellent early-stage floral formation. Morphologically, the plants displayed broad internodal spacing and semi-lobed leaflets. Stem rubs produced aromas distinctly floral and sweet, accompanied by subtle fruit undertones reminiscent of ripe melon.
As we documented these domesticate plants, a teenage boy from the neighbourhood approached us, speaking fluent English. He informed us that the owner of the plants was currently away at the market and expressed surprise at our presence, remarking with incredulity that we, as foreigners, would have difficulty sourcing ganja locally. While this conversation occurred, Bella located a small mixed feral and landrace cannabis population nearby, growing alongside a drainage line adjacent to the domesticate patch. This stand consisted of approximately 15–20 mature individuals, many bearing ripe seeds as well as two towering landrace females in early development.
As we began documenting and collecting seeds from the feral plants, several residents from the adjacent house emerged to inquire about our activity. This group was predominantly middle-aged women who initially seemed concerned by our presence. After briefly explaining our survey intentions, their apprehension visibly lessened, though they remained somewhat reserved. Given this cautious atmosphere and rapidly deteriorating weather, we refrained from pressing for further information or conducting detailed interviews.
We collected seeds from several of the healthiest feral females, which exhibited typical regional traits: upright structure, narrow leaflets, dense floral clusters, and moderate to heavy resin coverage. Aromatic profiles were intense and skunk-forward, accented by sharp rubber and chemical undertones.
These seeds formed the following accession:
Banarhat Feral General Population Accession #1
Genetics: Western Dooars Feral
Type: Point of Origin, Open Pollinated
Style: Feral
Sourcing: Éloïse, Iza (2025)
Village(s): Banarhat
District: Jalpaiguri
Province: West Bengal
Area: Western Dooars
Region: Dooars
Appellation: Banarhat
Country: India
Cultivation Details:
Regional Planting: Self-seeding
Regional Harvest: June through October
Height: 1.5–2.5m
Classification: Feral population
By this point, the monsoon weather was closing in fast. Heavy clouds gathered overhead, and strong winds began sweeping across the road, bending the feral cannabis plants on the roadside and sending dust swirling along the verges. With our camera battery fully depleted and conditions deteriorating by the minute, we decided to leave Banarhat and press onward toward Madarihat for the night. We planned to resume survey work the following morning, aiming for the areas near the western boundary of Jaldapara National Park.
Conclusion
This phase of the Northeast India survey documented cannabis populations along the middle Jaldhaka river lands, covering a landscape characterised by extensive tea monoculture, village settlements, and fragmented lowland forest. Unlike the sharp vertical gradients of previously surveyed upland zones, this sector remained largely flat, defined by plantation belts, homestead gardens, and the braided channels of the Jaldhaka river and its many tributaries.
Feral cannabis populations were found in varied ecological contexts, from shaded interior stands within Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary to dense roadside and drainage-line populations near Deana and Nagrakata. Across sites, plants displayed significant morphological and aromatic variation, including citrus, skunk-forward, rubbery and medicinal profiles. Chapramari stood out for hosting a feral population deep inside forest cover, linking lowland ecologies to genotypes observed further north in the Kalimpong Range.
Domesticate landrace cultivation was modest in scale, integrated into household gardens and peripheral plots, and typically sourced from local ganja rather than preserved breeding lines. In Looksan, the survey encountered the tallest and most vigorous domesticate plants documented so far, reaching heights of 3–4 meters and producing distinct honeydew-melon terpene profiles. These individuals underscore the genetic potential present in even small-scale lowland cultivation.
Although no large commercial plots were directly observed, repeated testimony from growers and residents pointed to concealed cultivation zones along riverbanks, within tea estate margins, and near the Bhutan border. The persistence of discreet, small-scale growing practices reflects the region’s diverse demographic mosaic, varied land tenure systems, and localized patterns of enforcement.
In total, twelve accessions were completed across five key locations, adding a significant lowland dataset to the broader Western Dooars survey. Despite intermittent monsoon rains, equipment limitations, and the logistical demands of long transit routes, the phase confirmed the ongoing presence and diversity of both feral and cultivated cannabis populations throughout the corridor. The findings reveal a lowland cannabis ecology distinct from the environments previously documented characterised by different plant morphologies, aromatic profiles, and cultivation strategies.
Follow-up work is planned for the post-monsoon season to revisit promising sites, complete seed collections and deepen engagement with growers, particularly in Looksan, Banarhat, and areas along the river and Bhutani border where concealed cultivation is reportedly active. Integrating this lowland data will be crucial for mapping cannabis diversity across the Western Dooars and understanding the genetic and cultural landscape of the broader Himalayan foothill region.
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