Blackricevarieties brought from Manipur and Odisha toAssamhave infused new hope among tribal farmers in Goalpara district of Assam.
Veteran farmerUpendra Rabhafrom Goalpara, known for popularizing the black rice variety in lower Assam has been roped in by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to promote the premium varieties of black rice that have the potential to give international market linkage to the farmers of Assam. Ravaged by elephants every year, the black rice varieties have been planted under the -supported Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART), implemented by the state agricultural department. This aims to give relief to the farmers with high returns even from lesser yield.
Branded under the name,Upendra RiceI, the variety has already been supplied to the markets of Odisha, Punjab, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Rabha received one kg black rice seed sample from a Rajasthan agricultural fair through theKrishi Vigyan Kendra, Goalpara, several years back but only one seed germinated. He did not lose hope. From one seed, the variety later became the popular Upendra Rice I and it has spread to several districts of Assam, Rabha said. This year, he claimed Upendra Rice II and III, evolved from Upendra Rice I, have been distributed to local farmers.
The seeds were sown on a total area of 17.6 bighas of land comprising Manipuri black rice on 10 bigha, Kalavati on 3.6 bigha and Kalamalifula on 4.0 bigha. The crop is expected to be harvested in the next one week.