Kala Namak rice
Siddharthnagar is gifted with a fertile land and the main crops grown here are Rice, Wheat, Sarson & Potato. Kala Namak is a variety of rice that is very popular.
About Kala Namak rice
Kala Namak rice is grown in the tarai area of Siddharth Nagar and ten neighboring districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. It is a scented rice variety which is generally offered better price as compared to other rice varieties to the farmers.
The name Kalanamk Rice has been derived due to its black husk (kala = Black, & the suffix 'namak' means salt). It is famous for its taste, palatability, and aroma. It is also featured in speciality rices of the world by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
Kala namak Rice is in cultivation since the Buddhist period (600 BC). The grains were found from excavation of Aligarhwa (district Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India), located at Nepal border.
Kala namak rice was given the Geographical Indication tag in 2013.
Nutritive value of Kalanamak rice
The Kala namak rice is rich in micronutrients like Iron and Zinc, has a low glycemic index, thus better for diabetic people and also has higher protein content when compared to other paddy varieties.
| Particulars | General Rice | Kala namak Rice |
| 1. Amylose | 24% | 19-20% |
| 2. Protein | 5-6% | 10% |
| 3. Fat | 0.52 | 0.51 |
| 4. Iron | 1 mg | 3 mg |
| 5. Zinc | 0.1 mg | 0.4 mg |
| 6. Carbohydrate | 88% | 87.96% |
| 7. Glycemic Index | 85% | 49% |
Promotion of Kala Namak rice
The Government of Uttar Pradesh is promoting Kala Namak rice under One District One Product (ODOP) and has sanctioned a project of Rs. 12.00 crore for promotion of Kala Namak rice.
A Common Facility Centre (CFCs) - Shivansh Siddharthnagar Agriculture Development Producer Company Limited has been established as part of the ‘One District, One Product’ scheme to promote kala namak rice.
Due to the promotion efforts,
- The district has increased the production of Kala Namak rice from 2,700 hectares in 2018 to 12,000 hectares in 2021.
- The cost of Kalanamak rice has been increased from Rs 40/kg in 2018 to Rs 135/kg in 2021.
- Number of farmers increased from 2950 (2018) to 13500 (2021).
- Profitability from Kalanamak rice is 3 times per unit area as compared to normal rice.
Efforts to promote 'Kalanamak rice' by officials of Siddharthnagar district received the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration during 2022.
Last Modified : 9/22/2023
