Context: A Finance Ministry notification said that the export of Kala Namak rice will be permitted through 6 customs stations.
About Kalanamak Rice
- Kala Namak rice is grown in the Tarai area of Siddharth Nagar and ten neighboring districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
- Kalanamak Rice is approved for 11 districts of Zone 7 of UP. These 11 districts are located in the divisions of Gorakhpur (Deoria, Gorakhpur, Mahrajganj, Siddharth Nagar districts), Basti (Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Siddharth Nagar districts), and Devipatan (Bahraich, Balrampur, Gonda, Shravasti districts).
- It is a scented rice variety which is generally offered at a 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 rice of the world by the Food and Agricultural Organization (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.
- Kalanamak rice was granted the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag in 2012 by the Government of India.
- Nutritive Value: 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.
