সেউজী ধৰণী
Rice of Assam
Dr. Kishor Kumar Sharma
Rice is life of Assam as it provide both food and
nutritional security to 3 corer population residing in the state. The crop is
grown in a wide diverse situation in Assam. It is grown from hill slopes of
Karbi Anglong district to deep water areas of Dhemaji district. Assam is also
bestowed with rich diversity of rice cultivars. Among them are joha (aromatic),
waxy ( bora), Semiwaxy ( Chokuwa) and red bao ( Deep and floating) rice are unique
‘gift of nature’ These rice classes are grown from time immemorial to cater the
household needs of the farmers. Cultivators resort to traditional varieties and
cultivation practices. By and large there has been no effort to improve the production
and productivity of these classes of rice. These orphan classes of rice, however,
can become item of commerce both in domestic and international markets.
Research back up and sound linkage with institutions concerned in public,
private and rice industry are needed to develop products for such niche
markets. Therefore, production of these classes of rice and their processing
has to undergo sea change to meet the demands of customers in the domestic and
international markets.
More than 40% rice in Assam is grown in fragile
environments. Modern technologies based on inputs like HYV and chemical
fertilizers have not penetrated to such areas. Hence, farming in these areas is
organic in nature from time immemorial. The unattended classes of rice are grown
organically by default. Organic products are gaining popularity throughout the
globe and fetch premium price. Almost all countries of the world have started
to practise and encourage organic farming. Assam can take advantage of the
organically produced rice products to fetch high price in the markets
elsewhere.
Red Rice:
Many cultivars in deepwater (bao) situation (
>100cm water depth ), direct seeded ahu rice ( upland and hillrice) and some
Sali ( lowland rice) possess red endosperm. Red colour is conferred by
anthocyanin pigments. They are rich in micronutrients like iron and zinc,
Vitamin A and antioxidents. Bao, ahu and hill rices are invariably grown
organically. In 2012, U.S. based Lotus Food Inc. has ordered for 70 q of red bao
rice from Dhemaji district through its partner Nature Biofoods Ltd. of Haryana.
The demand for such rice was 3000q in 2012-13. Substantial rice growing areas
of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sibsagar districts and Majuli river island are very
lowlying where no other rice except bao (deepwater and floating) can be
grown. Deepwater rice is grown in about 1lakh ha. In Dhemaji alone it is grown
in 10000ha of land. Farmers consume them in their daily diet and the excess
produce is traded in the local markets. The present price of bao rice in
the local market is around Rs.800-900 /q while the Lotus Food Co. fetched Rs.
1500 for a quintal of rice. The Company is ready to fetch higher price if
quality of the rice is maintained. Prominent bao cultivars include
Amona, Maguri, Kekoa, Jul etc., whose yield potential is not more than 20q /ha.
Similar to bao, many other direct seeded ahu cultivars like
Rongadoria, Rongaahu, Banglami, Koimurali, Dumai etc and jhum rice grown in
hill slopes ( e.g. Dimororu,Maibee) are also red kernelled which could benefit
a large segment of the the farmers of the state.
Joha or Aromatic rice :
Joha is a class of rice grown
in Assam for its aroma, delicate and excellent taste. It is invariably grown by
the Assamese farmers to make desserts such as kheer, payas, pulao and
also the normal form. Joha rice is known for its sweet aroma, superfine kernel,
good cooking quality and excellent palatability and taste. Except elongation
ratio, joha rice of Assam is comparable to highly priced Basmati and
other scented rice in India. It is grown in around 20,000ha producing around
30,000MT every year. Joha is sold @ Rs 40-75 in the retail markets. In
2007, the first consignment of 17MT of joha rice was exported to three
European countries viz., Germany, U.K. and Switzerland where it was of high
demand. But, due to ban on export of non Basmati in 2008, consignment of 33MT
was cancelled. However, now the ban has been lifted.
Kolajoha, Krishnajoha, Kunkunijoha, Ramphaljoha and Gobindbhog are
important and widely grown cultivars in the state. Ketekijoha is the first HYV
developed by Assam Agricultural University with high yield potential and aroma.
The aroma of joha and Basmati is conferred by a
chemical called 2-Acetyl -1-Pyrroline. Aroma of a few joha
cultivars are comparable to Basmati but the grain type of joha range
from short slender to medium slender unlike Basmati which is long slender. The
elongation ratio is 1.8 for Basmati while that of joha is 1.4. There is
ample scope for export of this non Basmati organic aromatic rice. There is also
possibility of expansion of areas under joha rice if marketing is
assured. This class of rice has demand in hotels and restaurants and special
occasions inside and outside the state.
Waxy rice of Assam:
Waxy
rice is highly valued throughout Asia and has wider acceptability in Europe.
Assam is rich in diversity of waxy rice. Among these, glutinous rice known as bora
in vernacular is an important class of rice considered to be soft in cooking
consistency. It has trace amylose but high amylopectin.. In Chokuwa
cultivars, the amylose varies from 15-20%. Important bora cultivars are
Jotabora, Malbhogbora, Gandhibora, Khamtibora, Ghewbora, Maubora etc. while Saruchokuwa,
Borchokuwa, Bogachokuwa,Parochokuwa are important chokuwa cultivars.
Bora rice is very sticky and is used for traditional
preparations like Pitha, Hurum, Chunga Chaol etc. In 1990, Mumbai based Imami
Company procured around 10MT of bora rice and prepared some instant food
products like snacks, chips etc. But due to lack of constant supply of good
quality grains, the company did not continue with the products.
Bora rice is also used for preparation of quality
rice beers by many communities of Assam. Standardization of process of brew
making from bora rice is required to prepare marketable products. Rice
beer prepared out of bora rice can ensure growth of brew industry and
can get GI registration.
Rice with amylose content of around 15% is known as
chokuwa in vernacular. This class of rice along with bora is used for
preparation of ‘soak and eat’ item known as ‘komal chaol’. Preparation
of komal chaol needs parboiling and drying before they are stored for
future consumption. Such rice can be soaked in water for sometime and can be
consumed with milk, curd or curries. Hence, the rice doesn’t need cooking. It
can be useful for traveller, military personnel in high altitude, sailors, and
even in fast food restaurants. Once the value added products with their recipes
are known to the people, both bora and chokuwa will have demand
in the markets. In the recent years product of bora and chokuwa
rice have entered markets in urban areas of Assam particularly at the time of
festivals and occasions.
High yielding bora varieties have been developed by
Assam Agricultural University. There is need to standardization of processing
and value addition of the products.
Rice Bran Oil:
Rice bran oil is the oil extracted from the germ and inner
husk of the rice. It is used in cosmetics, confectionaries, shoe cream and
polishing compounds. Rice bran is also used for treating diabetes, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, alcoholism, obesity, AIDS, strengthening immune
system, improving liver etc. The oil improves cholesterol level by reducing
plasma cholesterol and triglycerides.
Rice bran oil has 30% monounsaturated, 37% polyunsaturated
and 25% saturated fatty acids. Rice bran oil has an antioxidant called
gamma-oryzanol. The oxidative stability of rice bran oil is equivalent or
better than Soybean, Corn, Canola and Safflower.
Ensuring Assam Rice for
Export:
Agriculture in Assam is primarily characterized as a means
of subsistence, small investments, small return and source of livelihood for
rural household. For commercialization, emphasis has to be given on consumer
preferences, value addition and ensuring supply of quality products to the exporters.
By and large the farmers of Assam are unorganized and are unaware of the
markets demand of their valuable assets. They are also not aware of marketing channels
in their locality .Following approaches would ensure continuous supply of
products in the markets.
Contract Farming
Contract farming is a system designed to obtain desired
quantity of quality products as per mutually agreed and predetermined prices between
farmers and the company or in other words it is a system in which cultivators
get commitment from buyers for purchase of his commodity while the buyers is
also assured with the supply of the product. Typically, the contractor supplies
the farmer with the inputs and technical advice while the farmer supplies land
and labour. In case of rice farmers growing bao, bora, chokuwa or joha
should be provided with cash/ credits. The farmer is then committed for supply
of definite quantity of rice. Provision should also be made for capacity
building of the farmers to produce the quality products. Monitoring of rice
fields during crop growing season and post harvest operations would ensure
quality products.
Formation of Self Help Groups:
Different SHGs may involve in production, marketing and
post harvest activities. Organizing scattered small and marginal farmers into
associations/SHGs would not only ensure quality products but also prevent
farmers from being exploited
Organic Farming:
There is a great demand for high quality products and
organically grown foods in the International markets and Assam can capitalize
on its potential to go for organic farming in a large scale. Large proportion
of our rice cultures are organically produced where farmers do not apply
external inputs.The Agricultural and Processed Food products Export Development
Agency (APEDA) is encouraging rice sector to produce and export organic rice.
Return from organic farming could be maximized by careful manipulation of
management practices and judicious use of inputs.
Value Addition:
In the light of globalization and liberalization, quality consciousness
of the overseas consumers has been increasing. This needs method of processing
to produce attractive and good quality products, rice branding patterns to
attract the customers. There is a lot of scope to improve the harvest and post
harvest techniques, storage methods, processing technologies and value addition
if we have to compete the international markets.
Create awareness on the
potential products of rice
Effort should be made by the Govt/ SAUs to make aware about
the potentiality of various classes of rice through trade fares, technology
fares or through print and electronic media to public. This will attract
interested parties involved in the export of rice and its products. If
organized well, private sector participation in the sustenance agriculture for
producing, processing and marketing the commodities can be a win-win
proposition. It can increase employment in rural areas among the cultivators
who has surplus household labourers. Private sector partners provide needed
technologies, inputs, extension services and assured markets that reduce risk
of small farmers.
Government agencies of Assam can take initiative to link
the growers with appropriate private sectors for contract farming or building
confidence amongst the them for the same.
Empowering the farmers
The growers should be made aware of the quality standards of
the products because the international trade is very much stringent on quality
standards. Growers should know about the removal of off types in nursery and main
fields, harvest and post-harvest operations to ensure purity, moisture status
of the grains, milling intensity, packaging and storage procedures. For
example, in red rice packs, admixture of white kernelled grains is not
desirable. Similarly admixture of non waxy grains with waxy grains of non
aromatic grains with aromatic grains are not expected in the international
trade
Training to growers, millers and transporters for
cultivation practices, post harvest management and packaging would ensure
quality standards and build up confidence amongst the stakeholders.
Registration under GI or
PPV & FR
In the present IPR regime, it is essential to protect the
valuable genetic resources which are becoming commodity of trade. Registration
under GI or PPV&FR Authority will ensure benefit sharing and prevent
illegal infringement. Group of farmers or individual or SHGs or Govt. agencies
can take initiative for registration of these classes of rice. Provisions of
registration under GI or PPV & FR have provided opportunities to farmers /
communities of the region to reap the benefits from the diverse genetic
resources being maintained over generations
1 Chief Scientist, Regional
Agricultural Research Station, North Lakhimpur- 787 001 Assam, India
For more details please contact Dr Sharma:-
Mobile:
09435489157:: e-mail: drkksttb@yahoo.co.in
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