The story
Kalanamak is an aromatic rice with a black husk grown in Siddharthnagar and nearby districts of the Terai, with local lore linking it to the time of the Buddha. The variety had declined, and was revived through improved seed and promotion as Siddharthnagar's ODOP product. It has a GI tag registered by a local society.
In numbers
No published source we could open prints current numbers for this cluster.
GI tag
- Kalanamak (Rice)Application no. GI Application No. 205; Registration No. 194GI Registry, IP India - Application 205: Kalanamak (Rice)
Ways in for a newcomer
- Branded, vacuum-packed Kalanamak rice for city and online buyers
- Seed production and contract farming
- Rice milling and sorting as a service
- Export to diaspora markets
Problems the cluster faces
- Lower yield than common varieties
- Mixing and fake 'Kalanamak' in markets
- Small farmers with little bargaining power
- Export residue limits
Businesses to start here
Kala Namak Rice Processing →Rice Mill (Mini) →Black Rice Processing Unit →Rice Flakes (Poha) Making →