 recently tested two new dwarf varieties of Kalanamak rice that give double the yield: Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652 in Uttar Pradesh. This will address the lodging issue that contributes to the traditional variety's low yield.){kind=link}
The Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) recently tested two new dwarf varieties of Kalanamak Rice that give double the yield: Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652 in Uttar Pradesh. This will address the lodging issue that contributes to the traditional variety’s low yield.
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What is Kalanamak rice?
Kalanamak, the traditional variety of paddy is a black husk with a strong aroma. It is regarded as a “gift from Lord Buddha” to the Sravasti people when he visited the area after enlightenment. It is grown in Nepal and in 11 districts of the Terai region in the northeast of Uttar Pradesh.
It has been awarded as the “One District, One Product” product of Siddharthnagar, an aspirational district in Uttar Pradesh’s Terai belt, under the “One District, One Product” (ODOP) program.
Kalanamak has also been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag system. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations featured it in its book called “Speciality Rice of the World”.
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What were the issues?
The issue with the conventional variety of Kalanamak rice is that it’s tall and prone to lodging, which seriously affects grain filling and quality. Lodging is a condition in which the plant falls to the ground because of the grain formations the top becomes heavy and the stem weak. The market for rice also experienced a significant decline with a yield of just 2-2.5 tonnes per hectare.
Further, the blight bacterial disease outbreak also impacts the paddy.
Kala Namak rice is ideal for crop production because it is mostly grown without the use of fertilizer or pesticide residues. The grower saves a significant amount of money as pesticides and fertilizers are not used.
What are the benefits of Kalanamak rice?
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This rice is high in micronutrients like iron and zinc, which can help prevent Alzheimer’s. It also has 11% protein, almost twice as much as other rice varieties.
In addition, its low Glycemic Index (49 to 52%) makes it suitable for diabetics and it contains antioxidants like anthocyanin, which aid in skin health improvement and prevent heart disease.
It has also been found to be helpful in controlling blood pressure and dealing with issues related to blood.
Cross-breeding of Kalanamak rice
According to the Hindu report, the dwarfing genes from the rice variety Bindli Mutant 68 are used in the breeding program. Additionally, the gene from Pusa Basmati 1176 was used as a parent to cross with Kalanamak, and the progenies were further backcrossed with Kalanamak to restore its quality.
It was distributed to farmers during the Kharif season. The new breed has a stronger aroma and excellent nutritional qualities. In comparison to the 2.5 tonnes that were produced by the traditional Kalanamak, productivity has increased to 4.5 to 5 tonnes per hectare.
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