After successfully obtaining Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Tandur red gram, Professor Jayashankar State Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture University (PJTSAU) is now bracing up to get GI tag for Telangana Sona (RNR 15048), also known as Chittimallelu rice.
This variety is believed to control glycemic index, which aids in maintenance of sugar levels among diabetics. Along with Telangana Sona, there are plans to file GI applications for Kollapur mango and Warangal mirchi. While the university is working on obtaining GI for Telangana Sona, the state Horticulture department is on the other two crops.
GI is based on the specific nature of the produce as well as the climatic conditions suitable for the crop in a specific region.
It took the university eight years of research to come up with Telangana Sona variety in 2015. Because it was the first, unique paddy variety approved during early years of state formation, it was given the name Telangana Sona.
Within a few years, the variety was widely accepted by farmers. It is now grown on approximately 15 lakh acres throughout the state. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Maharashtra also order this paddy variety from Telangana and each of these states has approximately 1.5 lakh acres under cultivation.
During the pandemic, a study published in the American Journal of Food and Nutrition stated that Telangana rice has a lower glycemic index than Japonica rice. Japonica rice is marked by short, fat grains and is grown and consumed extensively in China, Japan and Korea.