7 tonnes of black rice exported to US from Ganjam

Berhampur: The black rice produced by a young farmer in Ganjam district’s Chikiti has made its way to Chicago. Bikram Gouda, 38, has produced over 8 tonnes of black rice from his 10 acres of land and 7 tonnes of these were exported to the US recently, which is in high demand abroad, while the other 1 tonne was sent to a buyer in Koraput.Instead of depending solely on traditional markets, he used online platforms, social media, and digital communication to establish contacts with overseas buyers. After ensuring quality standards, proper packaging and export documentation, he dispatched the consignment to the US.“Though the price of the black rice, purple in colour, which I exported, is around Rs 300 to Rs 350 a kg in the internal market, I exported it at Rs 120 a kg.

I have given it at a lower price with a hope to increase its market internationally,” he said.Black rice, often referred to as a “super food”, is gaining popularity across the world because of its high nutritional value, higher plant protein content, including anthocyanins, fibre, iron and essential minerals, said Sunjit Kumar Nath, a senior scientist and in-charge of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Ganjam. He said Odisha possesses favourable agro-climatic conditions for cultivating this rice, offering immense export potential.

Labanya, which was grown by Gouda, is non-sticky and highly yielding, unlike traditional black rice varieties, he said. Gouda, who has completed his PG degree in English and BEd, has cultivated the black rice along with some other farmers in Chikiti gada for the last five years. After seeing its demand, he gradually increased the area.After completing his PG and BEd, he tried for a govt job and later decided to take up cultivation, his family’s occupation.

Initially, he cultivated the traditional paddy along with some aromatic rice. After getting support from KVK scientists, he started cultivation of black paddy, he said.His success serves as an inspiration for other educated rural youths who aspire to make agriculture profitable through innovation, said Nath. It also underlines the need for institutional support in branding, certification, processing and export facilitation so that more farmers can access international markets, said Bhairav Nayak, a retired agriculture scientist.