Biodiversity and Improvement in Kalanamak - A Local Scented Rice Cultivar in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Among small- and medium-grained aromatic rice varieties, Kalanamak is most important in India. It derives its name from its black husk. It is grown widely in Tarai Area adjoining Nepal particularly in districts ofGorakhpur, Maharajganj, Gonda, Mirzapur and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and West Champaran in Bihar. It is also cultivated in small pockets in district Kapilvastu of Nepal. History of cultivation ofKalanamak dates back to Buddha period. Till a decade ago about 10 per cent area was Kalanamak culti vated in the Sidharthanagar and Basti districts. However, due to severe panicle blast problem during the years 1998 and 1999, area under Kalanamak declined to less than 1 per cent. However, Kalanamak production is better than previous years in 2001 and high price (paddy Rs. 25 per kg and milled rice Rs. 45 per kg) definitely increase farmers' interest.