New varieties of Kalanamak rice invented to prevent ‘lodging’

• Kalanamak, a traditional variety of paddy with black husk and strong fragrance is all set to get a new look and name.
• Grown in 11 districts of the Terai region of northeastern UP and in Nepal.

Kalanamak and issue in it production

• Considered a gift from Lord Buddha to the people of Sravasti,
• Prone to ‘lodging’, a reason for its low yield
• A condition in which the top of the plant becomes heavy because of grain formation, the stem becomes weak, and the plant falls on the ground.
• Yield is barely two to 2.5 tonnes per hectare.
• Protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) tag system.

Scientific developments

• Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) has successfully developed 2 dwarf varieties of Kalanamak rice.
• Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 & 1652.
• Yield of the new varieties is double that of the traditional variety.

Prelims Takeaway

• Geographical indication
• Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI)