On Thursday, one metric tonne of Manipur’s aromatic black rice, known as Chakhao, was exported from Imphal to Europe after receiving a Geographical Indication tag in May.
Manipur has been cultivating scented black rice for years and has a total area of 4,500 hectares.
Manipur’s black rice is filled with the goodness of vitamins and minerals
It is gluten-free and abundant in vitamins and minerals. The pigment anthocyanin, which gives the rice its black color, also provides it with powerful antioxidant capabilities. Chakhao is a traditional medicinal plant that sells for Rs 100-Rs 120 per kilogram in Imphal.
Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh told CNN-News18, “I wish to congratulate various departments for coordinating for the export of this magnitude…this will help our farmers reach a wider market and get a good price for their local produce.”
The CM tweeted, “The support extended by Govt. of India has enabled our farmers to export our products at a remunerative price. The people of Manipur thank Hon’ PM @narendramodi Ji for his unwavering support for our farmers.”
Manipur CM on transportation facilities of the goods
Singh also waved down vehicles carrying high-quality seeds for distribution in villages where poppy fields had been destroyed as part of the government’s anti-drug campaign.
Facilitators in registering the GI tag
The registration of the GI tag for Manipur’s black rice is being facilitated by the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd (NERAMAC), Mission Organic Value Chain Development (Agriculture), Department of Agriculture, and the Manipur government.
NERAMAC, a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, was established in 1982 to help farmers and producers in the northeast receive fair prices for their produce, bridge the gap between farmers and the market, and improve the region’s agricultural, procurement, processing, and marketing infrastructure.