Latest news with #Kalanamak
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
UP ranked No.1 in country in ODOP plan implementation
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh bagged several awards in the National One District One Product (ODOP) 2024 Award ceremony. The state was adjudged joint No. 1 in the implementation of the scheme. It shared the honours with Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab. The state's work on positioning and popularising ODOP items in national and even international platforms, creating employment and conserving traditional art has been recognised. Secretary, MSME, Pranjal Yadav received the award on behalf of the department led by Alok Kumar II. The award was presented by Union minister for commerce and industry Piyush Goyal at an event in Delhi on Monday. In the district category, Siddharthnagar won the bronze award for the revival of Kalanamak rice from among 687 entries. Siddharthnagar district magistrate Raja Ganapati said the award acknowledges the district's exceptional work in promoting Kalanamak rice—a product deeply rooted in the region's heritage and noted for its distinct taste, aroma, and nutritional value. He said a central govt team, which conducted a survey of the district a few months ago, was impressed with the district's relentless efforts to improve production, quality, and market reach. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Urban Ascent by Emaar 4 BHK Apartments Starting at ₹ 5.25 Cr* on Dwarka E-Way , Near Gurugram Emaar India Get Quote Undo "The ODOP award is a testament to the district's commitment to promoting its iconic product on a global platform. With the Uttar Pradesh govt's support, the district administration is working to further boost the production and marketability of Kalanamak rice. The initiative already showed promising results, with the crop's cultivation expanding from 2,000 hectares to nearly 20,000 hectares, benefiting local farmers economically," he said. A govt spokesman said this achievement is particularly notable given the GI-tagged status of Kalanamak rice, underscoring its unique value. Moreover, the impact of the ODOP initiative is evident in the significant increase in cultivation area—from 2,000 hectares in 2018 to 18,000 hectares now, marking a nine-fold rise since its inclusion in the programme. The growth highlights the effectiveness of the ODOP initiative in promoting local products and improving farmers' livelihoods, the govt spokesman further added.
India Today
06-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Can Joha, Gobindobhog, Kalanamak beat the basmati-biryani nexus?
There is no jostling for competition among the varieties of rice sitting next to each other in neat jute sacks at Basudev Store in New Delhi's CR Park market. They could jolly well be having a conversation imperceivable to the human ear. The Gobindobhog rice could be telling the Haryana-born basmati, in Bengali-accented Hindi, about how it took six months for it to be ready in the fields of is Basudev Chowdhury, the shop owner, who reveals a silent friendly fight. While the long-grained basmati is a North Indian favourite, the aromatic Gobindobhog, which was a favourite in Bengali kitchens for payash or kheer, is winning over non-Bengali hearts."I have at least 15 non-Bengali customers who come to me regularly to buy gobindobhog rice. The attraction and use of gobindobhog rice have gone up over the years," says Chowdhury, who has been running the shop for close to three decades now. This is a stellar story for Gobindobhog, an aromatic rice variety, because the segment is dominated by basmati, which has received full-fledged government support. Gobindobhog (also known as Kalijira) and other non-basmati aromatic rice varieties like Kalanamak of Uttar Pradesh, Assam's Joha and Kola Joha, Bihar's Katarni and Tulaipanji of Bengal, have held their ground even as they await government hand-holding to create their own super-success is central to Bengali kheer (rice pudding) made with palm jaggery and is central to Makar Sankranti celebrations and other important occasions. Kalanamak is used in plain steamed rice or lightly spiced dishes, allowing its aroma to shine through. Joha complements Assamese meals, especially in pitha and payas (rice pudding), during festive feasts. It is also used in meals, especially with pigeon meat and duck curry. Tulaipanji, prized for its delicate texture, is often served with light Bengali curries or made into pulao on special which has received government support since the 1960s, is a major export item and has become synonymous with India the world over. Within the country, basmati's availability, aesthesis and affordability have taken it to kitchens across India. The use of basmati for biryani, a sort of nexus, has also helped it in its kitchen fragrant basmati might be the most recognised, India has several aromatic rice varieties that have the potential to create a mark of their suggest that state governments should use the signature qualities of these aromatic rice varieties to market them in alternative destinations where they are appreciated for their they say, would help them spread their aroma across the world just like basmati's and boost India's agricultural and overall exports. Else, India's rich rice varieties face risk of fading into the vloggers and influencers are promoting these "folk rice" varieties, which are linked to local festivals and folklore. Many of these videos have gone viral. Each of them are regional favourites with their own charm. Biryani made with long-grained basmati, and fragrant pulao or khichdi made with short, aromatic rice. (Images: Unsplash/Mario Raj) advertisementINDIA'S TOTAL BASMATI ACREAGE AND NON-BASMATI AROMATIC RICE ACREAGEIn 2023-24, India's total rice acreage stood at approximately 47.8 million hectares, with projections indicating a rise to 49 million hectares in 2024-25, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).Basmati rice, primarily cultivated in Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and western Uttar Pradesh, covered an estimated 2.88 million hectares, reflecting a 30 percent increase since 2020 driven by robust export basmati accounts for less than 7 percent of India's total rice production, it contributes over 60 percent of the country's rice export value. Production for 2023-24 stood at around 8.5 million tonnes, as per estimates from the Unified Portal for Agricultural aromatic rice varieties such as Kalanamak (Uttar Pradesh), Joha (Assam), Tulaipanji and Gobindobhog (West Bengal), and Ambemohar (Maharashtra) collectively span an estimated 0.5 to 1 million hectares, based on figures from Indian Agricultural Reasearch Institute (IARI) and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) cited in multiple is seen, non-basmati aromatic varieties together span barely a third of that of exported more non-basmati rice, but basmati brought in more foreign Volume (MT)Export Value (INR Cr)Export Value (USD Bn)Basmati5.24 millionRs 48,389 crore$5.84 billionNon-Basmati11.12 millionRs 7,804 crore$4.57 billionTotal16.36 millionRs 6,193 crore$10.41 billionSo far, 45 varieties of basmati rice have been notified under The Seeds Act, 1966, according to exported approximately 5.24 million tonnes of basmati rice worth Rs 48,389 crore ($5.84 billion) and 11.12 million tonnes of non-basmati rice worth Rs 37,804 crore ($4.57 billion) in FY 2023–24, totalling 16.36 million tonnes of rice exports, according to data from APEDA and the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS).Specific data for non-basmati aromatic varieties like Joha or Kalanamak is not officially consolidated but is estimated to be a small fraction of the total non-basmati aromatic rice exports, likely in the range of tens to a few hundred thousand tonnes, as these remain niche and are exported under GI-tag and regional branding AND HOW THE THRUST ON BASMATI?India's thrust on basmati rice stems from its cultural roots, high export value, and the need for legal grown in the Indo-Gangetic plains, basmati was mostly consumed domestically until liberalisation and global demand in the 1990s transformed it into a major export crop."The first basmati rice variety was notified as far back as 1930 during British rule. Since the 1960s, the government has worked in mission mode to promote basmati. That means efforts to popularise basmati have been going on for nearly a hundred years. Alongside the government, the private sector has also played a major role", said Om Prakash, agricultural expert at Kisan Tak, India Today Digital's sister portal.A turning point came in the late 1990s when a US firm attempted to patent basmati hybrids, triggering widespread alarm. This led to India enacting the Geographical Indications Act in 1999. Though the patent was partly revoked in 2001, the incident underscored the urgency of global safeguards and wide marketing of basmati. India, finally, secured GI status for basmati in the EU in preserve quality and reputation, India regulates basmati exports through Minimum Export Price (MEP) norms, revisited as recently as 2024. Agencies like APEDA support exporters with global compliance, branding, and logistics. Strong demand from the Middle East and expat communities, especially for dishes like Arabian Mandi, has further boosted long grains and ability to absorb spices without turning mushy make it ideal for commercial a festive staple, it now anchors everyday menus, driven by India's biryani 2023, Swiggy recorded 2.5 biryani orders per second, and Zomato crossed 100 million. Post-Covid, institutional demand rose sharply—LT Foods saw a 24% jump in HORECA sales, KRBL 20–25% in bulk trends mirror this basmati market stood at Rs 495 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach Rs 537 billion by 2033, with premium rice now accounting for nearly 40% of sales. Innovations like ready-to-cook biryani kits and blended spice packs are cementing basmati's place in home rice has become one of India's top agri-exports, uplifting farmer incomes, generating rural jobs, and showing how traditional crops can thrive globally with the right legal and policy push. Basmati rice is the preferred choice in iconic biryani varieties like Hyderabadi, Lucknowi, Mughlai, Delhi, and Kolkata biryanis, as well as in globally popular dishes like Arabian Mandi and Kabsa. (Image: Getty) WHAT ARE OTHER INDIAN NON-BASMATI AROMATIC RICE?While basmati dominates in policy focus and global promotion, India's non-basmati aromatic rice varieties, like Gobindobhog, Kalanamak, Joha, and Tulaipanji, carry cultural roots and a market potential that remains largely and Tulaipanji received GI tags in 2017, but struggle with weak institutional support and market from Assam, known for its aroma and softness, hasn't received support, but its cultivation has stayed steady."Unlike basmati, which grows best in the Terai belt, Assam's climate and soil do not support the full expression of basmati's quality traits. Therefore, Assam farmers continue to cultivate traditional varieties like Joha and Kola Joha, which are better suited to local conditions and cultural preferences, among the aromatic rice varieties," agriculture expert Mowsam Hazarika tells India Today from eastern Uttar Pradesh, after near-extinction, has seen a revival through GI status in 2013 and the ODOP scheme, with acreage rising from 10,000–15,000 hectares in 2018 to up to 50,000 hectares by from Maharashtra, despite its unique fragrance, is in decline due to low yields and remains fragmented, despite local branding and schemes. With stronger marketing, organic certification, and focused policy push, these varieties could move beyond niche status and gain wider domestic and global appeal. Rice-growing states like Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala and Maharashtra have many of India's non-basmati aromatic rice varieties. They are entwined with local culture, festivals, and rituals. (Image: PTI) EXPERTS ON NON-BASMATI AROMATIC RICE"Kala Namak rice is gaining traction like never before," says Professor Ramchet Chaudhary, a long-time advocate of the variety. Priced at 25-50% higher than Basmati in Indian markets, its demand is growing in the US, the UAE, and the UK, where it sells for up to 300 per kilo on he notes, had a century-long headstart, with government backing and powerful business houses. "Kala Namak is only now getting the attention it deserves."Part of the appeal lies in its nutrition. "While Basmati has 6% protein, Kala Namak has nearly 11%. It's sugar-free, with three times the iron and four times the zinc," Chaudhary tells India Today systemic hurdles persist. "There's no separate HS code for Kala Namak. It's lumped under non-Basmati. These varieties need their own recognition," he stresses. A dedicated foundation is in the experts also echo similar concerns."Assam is rich in short-grain aromatic rice varieties that are quite different from basmati in terms of grain size, elongation, and texture after cooking," says Hazarika, former Director of the Assam Seed and Organic Certification Agency."But there's been no serious national push for these either. Traditional varieties like Joha and Kola Joha continue to thrive locally, but the export support, branding, and marketing they need is largely missing," he believes GI tags and cultural importance are not enough."We need organised systems for farming, storage, aroma retention, and transportation. And most importantly, a higher MSP to make cultivation viable," says such support, he warns, many of India's unique regional grains risk fading quietly into the Ramchet Chaudhary agrees. He says, "There are so many under-supported varieties, Gobindobhog, Katarni -- each with its own story. Maybe that will now change".Despite challenges like global competition, MEPs, and weather risks, India's aromatic rice diversity is helping expand both basmati and non-basmati exports. Indigenous aromatic rice takes up to six months to mature, while high-yielding Basmati typically takes 4 to 5 months. Kalanamak, Gobindobhog, and Joha, three aromatic rice jewels of India, carry centuries-old heritage and regional pride. (Images: National Portal of India, WB Tourism, DPIIT, PTI) BASMATI, OTHER AROMATIC RICE AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORTIn January 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture introduced the Non-Basmati Aromatic Rice Classification and Marking Rules under the Grading and Marking Act. These rules standardise quality criteria for five aromatic rice varieties — Gobindabhog, Tulaipanji, Kataribhog, Kala Namak, and Radhunipagal, formalising grading and improving transparency for farmers and Department of Commerce and DGFT, via APEDA, have issued export quotas for select some obstacles need to be dealt with."Of course, we earn over Rs 50,000 crore annually in foreign exchange from the export of basmati rice. But the allure of basmati has been made so dominant that even higher-quality aromatic rice varieties have been dwarfed. This is because successive governments have been unjust to them," says Om Prakash of Kisan Tak."Basmati rice, special aromatic rice should be assigned a separate HSN (Harmonized System Nomenclature) code. This would make their export easier. It would also ensure that exports of such special rice are not halted along with non-basmati white rice," the agriculture expert said."The price value of such fragrant special varieties is far higher than basmati. For instance, Kala Namak rice is priced at Rs 300 per kilo, while basmati sells for Rs 100 to Rs 150," he some non-Basmati aromatic rice varieties are making progress."From our own home, we exported 400 quintals to the US," says Professor Ramchet Chaudhary, who was also hopeful about a better outcome for other non-Basmati aromatic rices with efforts from the government and private India, too, people who weren't acquainted with the non-basmati aromatic rice varieties are now discovering Chowdhury says he has been selling more and more Gobindobhog rice for the last 7 years. He pegs that on people experimenting with food and having more spending power. "Earlier people used Gobindobhog only for payesh. Now, they are preparing khichdi and pulao from it too."Chowdhury also shares how his non-Bengali customers discovered Gobindobhog rice."Visitors mostly like trying Bengali sweets at CR Park market. After tasting the rasgullas made of palm jaggery, they land up at my grocery store looking for the jaggery. When told that Gobindobhog goes best with palm jaggery, they try and surrender to the taste," says Chowdhury, adding that most then become loyal the non-basmati aromatic rice varieties are being discovered and recognised, they need organised calls for giving desi aromatic rice their due, increasing government push and research, it won't be too long before which aromatic rice in India could be on your kitchen shelf and India's aromatic rice story will go beyond basmati. Varieties like Gobindobhog, Joha and Kalanamak will gain more export traction and market interest. What they need next is sustained policy support, stronger branding, and targeted export promotion to realise their global potential.- EndsMust Watch
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Business Standard
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Early monsoon rains boost hopes of record grain harvest in India
With rains arriving ahead of schedule in many regions, farmers have been able to begin sowing earlier than usual, Farm Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi said Bloomberg Early and widespread monsoon rains in India have accelerated the sowing of rice, oilseeds and pulses, boosting the country's chances of record grain harvest this year, according to the farm ministry's top bureaucrat. With rains arriving ahead of schedule in many regions, farmers have been able to begin sowing earlier than usual, Farm Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi said. If that continues at a normal pace through the critical months to September, it could benefit both the current crops and the upcoming winter harvest, he said. India, the world's second-largest producer of rice, wheat, and sugarcane, depends heavily on the annual monsoon to irrigate more than half of its farmland — and those rains directly affect crop yields, rural incomes and inflation. Above-average precipitation not only supports food security for the nation's 1.4 billion people but is also vital for lifting economic growth and stabilizing global agricultural markets. Chaturvedi ruled out concerns about fertilizer shortages this season. Supplies of urea, di-ammonium phosphate and potash are sufficient, he said, despite India's dependence on imports for part of its requirements. Seed availability is also being closely monitored to ensure that farmers receive certified, high-quality materials, he added. 'If the rains stay favorable through September, this could be a record year for Indian agriculture,' Chaturvedi said, referring to both monsoon and winter crops. India is forecast to receive above-normal rainfall in July, the wettest month of the monsoon season, according to the India Meteorological Department. Rains were 9 per cent above normal in June, it said. Despite farmers' preference for rice, encouraged by minimum support prices and additional state bonuses, the government is also eager to diversify production. Authorities are also promoting the cultivation of geographical indication-tagged specialty rice varieties, such as Kalanamak, which can command higher prices in overseas markets, Chaturvedi said.
The Print
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Print
UP to set up research centre for GI-tagged Kalanamak rice with IRRI
'We are in the process of setting up the centre. The aim is to revive and expand the area under cultivation as well as export of Kalanamak rice,' Nandi said. The research facility in Siddharthnagar district will focus on developing pest-resistant varieties and improving seed quality for the speciality rice, which has been cultivated since 600 BC and holds a coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag, State Minister for Industrial Development Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi told PTI. New Delhi, Jun 10 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh plans to establish a research centre for premium 'Kalanamak rice' in partnership with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to boost production and exports of the aromatic grain sold at Rs 250-300 per kg in the domestic market. The state government targets expanding cultivation area to 1,00,000 hectares in the 2025-26 kharif season starting next month, from 82,000 hectares previously, as demand grows for the black-husked grain known for its distinctive aroma and higher antioxidant content compared to regular rice varieties. Production reached 32.8 lakh tonnes in the 2024-25 season with average yields of 4 tonnes per hectare, according to state data. Uttar Pradesh exported about 500 tonnes of Kalanamak rice last year to Singapore and Nepal, with growing interest from Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Japan, where the grain's historical connection to Buddha adds cultural appeal. The rice, also called 'Buddha rice', is linked to a Buddhist legend claiming Lord Buddha gifted it to people in Kapilvastu as a blessing. The state has designated Kalanamak rice as a flagship product under its One District One Product initiative and established a processing facility with 80 per cent government funding to support export readiness through grading, packing and post-harvest services. Schemes, including Marketing Development Assistance and the Gateway Port Scheme, provide logistics support and funding to exporters for international trade fair participation. The non-basmati variety is cultivated exclusively during the monsoon season to maintain grain quality and sold for Rs 250-300 per kg in domestic markets, significantly higher than regular rice varieties. PTI LUX LUX SHW SHW This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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Business Standard
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
UP to launch kalanamak rice research centre with IRRI to boost exports
Uttar Pradesh plans to establish a research centre for premium 'Kalanamak rice' in partnership with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to boost production and exports of the aromatic grain sold at Rs 250-300 per kg in the domestic market. The research facility in Siddharthnagar district will focus on developing pest-resistant varieties and improving seed quality for the speciality rice, which has been cultivated since 600 BC and holds a coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag, State Minister for Industrial Development Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi told PTI. "We are in the process of setting up the centre. The aim is to revive and expand the area under cultivation as well as export of Kalanamak rice," Nandi said. The state government targets expanding cultivation area to 1,00,000 hectares in the 2025-26 kharif season starting next month, from 82,000 hectares previously, as demand grows for the black-husked grain known for its distinctive aroma and higher antioxidant content compared to regular rice varieties. Production reached 32.8 lakh tonnes in the 2024-25 season with average yields of 4 tonnes per hectare, according to state data. Uttar Pradesh exported about 500 tonnes of Kalanamak rice last year to Singapore and Nepal, with growing interest from Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Japan, where the grain's historical connection to Buddha adds cultural appeal. The rice, also called "Buddha rice", is linked to a Buddhist legend claiming Lord Buddha gifted it to people in Kapilvastu as a blessing. The state has designated Kalanamak rice as a flagship product under its One District One Product initiative and established a processing facility with 80 per cent government funding to support export readiness through grading, packing and post-harvest services. Schemes, including Marketing Development Assistance and the Gateway Port Scheme, provide logistics support and funding to exporters for international trade fair participation. The non-basmati variety is cultivated exclusively during the monsoon season to maintain grain quality and sold for Rs 250-300 per kg in domestic markets, significantly higher than regular rice varieties. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
