Siddipet farmer cultivates Kalanamak rice sucessfully

The farmer, who founded the farmer's producers organisation named Nagapuri Rythu Seva, decided to encourage the farmers in the area to cultivate Kalanamak and other ancient and healthy paddy varieties cultivation.

Siddipet: Aiming to introduce one of the most healthy varieties of rice to the people of Telangana, organic farmer Jakkula Tirupathi Yadav (33) has cultivated Kalanamak rice at his agriculture field at Nagapuri village in Cheriyal mandal.

Kalanamak, believed to have been introduced by Lord Buddha to farmers at Siddharth Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, got a Geographical Indication tag in 2012. The Indian government recognised that the ancient variety of rice was still being cultivated in 11 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Tirupathi, who ventured into organic farming after his father Rajaiah was diagnosed with fourth stage cancer in 2019, had cultivated a variety of paddy including many varieties of black rice and red rice with an aim to serve healthy rice to his father. Though he could not save his father who succumbed to cancer, Tirupathi pursued his passion in organic farming.

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However, he found that many farmers were not showing interest in black-coloured and red-coloured rice. However, Kalanamak, whose husk remains black, will look like like normal white rice. It will have better proteins than millet and a much lesser glycemic index.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Tirupathi said the people who had diabetes could also consume this rice without any fear. The rice had omega fats 3 and 6 which were normally found among fish. Since many Indians would normally suffer from iron and zinc deficiency, Tirupathi observed that it would certainly address the issue since Kalanamak would have zinc and iron abundantly. Tirupathi, who cultivated Kalamnamak on 1 acre and 10 guntas during the Vanakalam season, claimed that he was the first farmer to cultivate the variety in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He got some 12 quintals of harvest. However, he decided to increase the area under cultivation to two to three acres during the Yasangi owning to its demand.

The farmer, who founded the farmer’s producers organisation named Nagapuri Rythu Seva, decided to encourage the farmers in the area to cultivate Kalanamak and other ancient and healthy paddy varieties cultivation. He was selling the rice at a minimum price of Rs.100 per kg to Rs.150 a kg.