Raipur: Chhattisgarh’s aromatic rice variety, Nagri Dubraj has been granted a geographical indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indication Registry. This will now provide the brand with a unique identity and open wide market for variety.
The Indira Gandhi Agricultural University played a vital role in obtaining the rights. Efforts to get a GI tag for this variety have been made by the authority for a long time. The rice is produced by a self-help group of women named “Maa Durga Swasahayata Samuh”. The women hail from Nagri in the Dhamtri district and have been growing and harvesting Dubraj rice.
Last year, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel pledged to take action to ensure that the fragrance of Dubraj rice returns to the farmer’s fields. This variety is popularly known as ‘Basmati of Chhattisgarh’ and is highly aromatic. It is also produced in Madhya Pradesh and is seen as an alternative to Basmati.
Rice has been the staple food for 40 per cent of the Indian population. With a total rice-producing capacity of 1000 lakh tonne in India, it is also the leading exporter of rice. The state of Chhattisgarh solely produces more than 60 lakh tonnes of rice.