Koraput Kalajeera rice is a variety of non-Basmati, aromatic, black paddy coloured, small rice mainly grown in the Indian state of Odisha.[1][2][3] It is a common and widely cultivated crop in the Koraput district of Odisha as well as Nabarangapur district which was earlier a part of Koraput.[4][5] For thousands of years, the ancestors of Koraput's present tribal communities have cultivated and domesticated Kalajeera rice, playing a crucial role in its conservation.[6][7]
| Koraput Kalajeera rice (କୋରାପୁଟର କଳାଜିରା ଧାନ) | |
|---|---|
| Geographical indication | |
| Description | Koraput Kalajeera rice is an aromatic rice cultivated in Odisha |
| Type | Aromatic rice |
| Area | Koraput district |
| Country | India |
| Registered | 2 January 2024 |
| Official website | ipindia.gov.in |
Under its Geographical Indication tag, it is referred to as "Koraput Kalajeera Rice".[8]
Name
editKoraput Kalajeera rice is a prized crop in Koraput and so named after it. The word "Kalajeera" is made up of 2 words - "Kala" meaning black in the state language of Odia, while "Jeera" means Cumin seeds. It is referred as the "Prince of Rice".[9]
Local name
editIt is known locally as "Koraputer Kalaajira Dhan" (କୋରାପୁଟର କଳାଜିରା ଧାନ)[10][11]
Description
edit- Aromatic variety
- Unique color, taste, texture, and aroma
- Black paddy, but white obtained rice
- Good aroma
Uses
editThe Kalajeera rice, cultivated by Koraput's tribals for generations, holds spiritual significance as it's used to prepare the sacred Prasad or Bhog offered at the Lingaraj and Ananta Basudev temples in Bhubaneswar. This initiative aims to promote and encourage the cultivation of Kalajeera.[12]
Geographical indication
editIt was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status tag from the Geographical Indications Registry under the Union Government of India on 2 January 2024 (valid until 10 January 2032).
Jaivik Sri Farmers Producer Company Limited from Pujariput, proposed the GI registration of Koraput Kalajeera rice. After filing the application in January 2022, the rice was granted the GI tag in 2024 by the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai, making the name "Koraput Kalajeera rice" exclusive to the rice grown in the region.[8][13][14][8] It thus became the first rice variety from Odisha and the 25th type of goods from Odisha to earn the GI tag.
The GI tag protects the rice from illegal selling and marketing, and gives it legal protection and a unique identity.
References
edit- ^ "Jaggery, painting, shawl among 7 Odisha products to get GI tag". The Hindu. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Awaad, Hassan Auda (8 September 2021). Sustainable Agriculture in Egypt: Climate Change Mitigation. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-030-81873-9. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Odisha: GI tags for Rayagada shawls, Koraput's kala jeera rice likely". The Times of India. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Hunter, Danny (25 June 2012). Crop Wild Relatives: A Manual of in situ Conservation. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-53823-0. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Jha, Raghbendra (1 September 2006). The First Ten K R Narayanan Orations: Essays by Eminent Persons on the Rapidly Transforming Indian Economy. ANU E Press. ISBN 978-1-920942-72-4. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ STORIES OF OUR GREEN SHEROES. Notion Press. 30 October 2024. ISBN 979-8-89588-619-9. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Swaminathan, M. S. (14 March 2017). 50 Years of Green Revolution: An Anthology of Research Papers. World Scientific Publishing Company. ISBN 978-981-320-007-4. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "Koraput Kalajeera Rice". Intellectual Property India. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Odisha: GI tags for Rayagada shawls, Koraput's kala jeera rice likely". The Times of India. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Bharat, E. T. V. (2 September 2023). "କୋରାପୁଟର ବିରଳ କଳାଜିରା ଧାନକୁ ମିଳିବ ଜିଆଇ ମାନ୍ୟତା". ETV Bharat News (in Odia). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Bharat, E. T. V. (1 February 2024). "ଶାବର ଶ୍ରୀକ୍ଷେତ୍ରରୁ ଶ୍ରୀକ୍ଷେତ୍ରକୁ ଗଲା କଳାଜିରା ଚାଉଳ, ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ ହେବ ପ୍ରସାଦ". ETV Bharat News (in Odia). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "GI-Tagged Koraput's Kalajeera Rice Sent to Puri Jagannath Temple For Mahaprasad". News18. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Row over GI tag for Kala Jeera rice in Odisha's Koraput district". The Indian Express. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Row over GI tag for Kala Jeera rice in Odisha's Koraput district". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 25 November 2024.