Action plan in the works to promote nutritious black rice grown in the northeast
White rice may rule the domestic and international markets with the famous 'Basmati' variety having pride of place, but in the near future it is black rice from the northeast that may win hearts of consumers due to its nutritional value and health benefits.
Black rice is mainly grown and consumed in Manipur where it is called 'Chakhao'. Famous for its pleasant nutty flavor, this little known rice variety has, however, started entering the world market through चीन which cultivates it both for local consumption and export.
Waking up to the need to promote the variety which already has a market in USA, Australia and यूरोपan countries, India's premier agricultural research institute is set to suggest an action plan to the government on how to promote black rice and other varieties.
The plan is expected to not only earn foreign exchange for the country but also improve the condition of farmers in the northeast and elsewhere.
Setting the stage for such a move, chief of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Trilochan Mohapatra on Friday threw a question at a gathering of eminent scientists here at a conference on the occasion of World Food Day when he asked whether they (scientists) were leaving out other regions (non-Basmati rice producing areas) in their research.
"There has to be a concrete action plan (to promote other varieties of rice from other regions). I believe this conference will throw light on the issue in next two days", said Mohapatra in what is largely believed to be a move to push other unique rice varieties, having high nutritional value, through government intervention.
In value terms, India exports rice worth over Rs 40,000 crore with the maximum foreign exchange coming to the country through export of Basmati variety. Though the country has done exceedingly well with arrival of a new Basmati variety (Pusa-1509), the idea is to increase the share of other varieties of rice as well in the international markets.
Head of the IARI's genetics division, A K Singh, who was the chief breeder of the popular and hugely successful Pusa-1509 variety of Basmati rice, admitted the importance of promoting other unique variety like black rice as well for larger interest of farmers in different regions. Singh told the TOI: "Black rice has medicinal value. Being rich in decease-fighting antioxidants, it is anti cancerous as well".
Other scientists, assembled here for the conference on "promoting exportable rice varieties and evolving a sustainable development model", too pledged to promote all such varieties including black rice which got pushed into the background over the years.
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