UP plans to set up research centre on Kalanamak GI rice with IRRI

(File pic) A field where kalanamak is being grown on a trial basis in Uttar Pradesh.

After successfully getting an exemption for Kalanamak rice, a traditional non-basmati aromatic variety accorded Geographical Indication tag, from export ban last year, the Uttar Pradesh government plans to set up one “Kalanamak Rice Research Centre” in Siddharthnagar district in collaboration with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to further strengthen scientific research and innovation.

Last year, the State government had established Kalanamak Rice Export Development Board under the chairmanship of district magistrate of Siddharthnagar, which is considered the main place of origin of the rice variety.

Kalanamak, with a black husk and a strong fragrance, is considered a gift from Lord Buddha to the people of the Sravasti when he visited the region after enlightenment. The government has released Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652 varieties developed by Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) in 2022.

After the Commerce Ministry allowed the State to issue permits for export of maximum 1,000 tonnes of the rice variety in 2024-25 fiscal, exporters had shipped about 500 tonnes, mainly to Singapore and Nepal, before the Centre removed the ban on non-basmati rice export in last week of September 2024, sources said.

“Effectively half of the allowed quantity was shipped in less than six months as exporters from October 2024 are free to ship any quantity they want and the state government does not keep a tab on the volume being shipped,” said an official source.

As the Centre had provided special window for its export last year, it benefited both farmers and exporters, said Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, Minister, Industrial Development and Export Promotion, Uttar Pradesh.

Tapping new markets

Stressing that Kalanamak rice has unique and distinct flavour for which it has huge demand, he said: “we are mulling various steps to increase its cultivation as well as exports. We are looking to expand new markets for its export and are encouraging exporters to participate in international fairs and exhibition.”

Dileep Chauhan, who had participated in Gulf Food exhibition in Dubai to explore demand for Kalanamak, said that last year he had sent 200 kg as sample to a buyer in Australia who wanted 50 tonnes per month on a regular basis. However, since most of the production is not done for commercial purpose, there is an issue of availability.

“I plan to target to grow the GI rice in 200 acres through contract farming in the coming season. However, there is an issue of funds as farmers need to be paid immediately while any exporters will have to keep it for a longer duration,” said Chauhan, who has been selling the rice in retail pack of 1 kg, 2 kg, 5kg under ‘Divyam Aahar’ brand in domestic market.

Chauhan also said that he is discussing with some quick commerce platforms for online sales as it is available in offline at stores selling organic products in the national capital region of Delhi.

This rice variety, reportedly low in glycemic index, is cultivated in 11 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh — Siddharthnagar, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gonda, Balrampur, Bahraich, Sravasti and Kushinagar under the GI-tagged production zone.

In Siddharthnagar, the State has opened a Common Facility Centre (CFC), named Shivansh Siddharthnagar Agriculture Development Producer Company, under the One District One Product initiative, with 80 per cent government funding, offering facilities for grading, packing, and other post-harvest processing to support export readiness of the Kalanamak rice.

Published on May 6, 2025