Ajingara Taal wetland with an area of 25 Hectare is located in Ajingara and Bhilmi VDC in Kapilvastu District in western terai region of the country. It is an important natural habitat for the existence of two wild relatives of rice Oryza rufipogon and Oryza nivara out of 4 wild varieties reported in the country present day . cultivated rice plant O. sativa is believed to have evolved from the wild variety of O. rufipogon. O.rufipogonand O. nivaraare two verities of wild rice naturally grown in Ajingara Tal wetland, which are locally known as Tinni and Tinna respectively. . Local people use the rice grain in local festivals such as during the Tin Chhatti Parva and in Navaratra as holy foodstuffwhile they do fasting. Because of close cross border with India many people visit Ajingara and Bhilmi VDC to purchase wild rice from August to October month. According to the local people they sell rice grain at the rate of USD1 for one Kg. A very rough and collective estimation shows that every year local people harvest around 12 - 15 Kg., which is not sufficient to meet local need.
Scientifically, O. nivarahas been proven to resist the disease causedby Grassi Stunt Virus and is also important to develop the IR-36 breed of rice. Similarly, O. nivarais used as a source of Cytoplasmic male sterility in the hybridization process. Likewise O. rufipogonhas resistant over Acid Sulphate and a quality to strengthen the stalk of plant.
Local people have been traditionally utilizing the Ajingara wetland resources for their livelihood. Irrigation water is being used by draining the water from three temporary earthen canals of Ajingara Tal, which benefits 395 households that supports more than 1500 populations to overcome with the partial food requirement. Likewise, 40 households are exclusively depend on fishing, 8 house holds rearing pigs, 6 households rears ship, and 85 households graze their cattle around the swamp area of the wetland.
But the wetland is shrinking due to siltation and encroachment from local people.