Telangana Sona rice hits Kuwait markets
Rice variety to be exported to US, UK and Middle East
Hyderabad: Even as Telangana has been steadily increasing its rice production, it also started focusing on rice exports. Home grown rice variety Telangana Sona, known for possessing a low glycemic index, has now found buyers in Kuwait and the first batch of the consignment of 24,000 kg (24 tonne) has been sent under the brand Befach Diabetic White Rice.
At least five more containers will be sent in the coming two months, according to Rajesh Saraf, director, Befach 4X Private Limited, the marketing partner of Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), which released the new revolutionary rice variety (RNR 15048) in 2015.
Befach’s role is to sell Telangana Sona both in the online and offline modes using its marketing network. “We have signed up with a big distributor in Kuwait. They have committed to take almost 200 tonne of Telangana Sona by the end of March this year. So far, 24 tonne has been sent,” Saraf told Telangana Today.
Befach has close to one lakh customers and many of them are repeat customers. India sales of Telangana will be upwards of 80,000 to 1,00,000 kg per month by March end this year. Exports are also getting added almost by the same quantity. It has sold about 2,00,00 kg (200 tonne) in the first phase. Total exports by March are expected to touch 3,00,000 kg (300 tonne). Befach buys from farmers in Nalgonda, Miryalaguda and other places in the State known for rice cultivation. It is in the process of appointing 200 dealers across India and will work with players like TSRTC for logistics.
“We received a LOI form an America-based importer and distributor. We are also confident of reaching Europe as well by April this year. We will also cover Middle East markets. We are getting good response from export markets as diabetes is a universal problem and people are finding the Telangana rice beneficial,” Saraf said.
A paper published in American Journal of Food and Nutrition said that Telangana Sona, also known as Chittimallelu, fared better than Japonica (68) rice in glycemic index (GI). Japonica rice is cultivated and consumed in China, Japan and Korea.
Telangana Sona had a low glycemic index (51.72) and on regular consumption for three months reduced the glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in diabetic subjects thereby suggesting its potential in the maintenance of blood glucose. It implied that RNR15048 may be used for regulating glucose levels in type-2 diabetic patients.
Also read:
Rice production in Telangana touches 1.3 crore tonnes in 2019-20
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