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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3866
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11TH AUGUST, 2026
CULTIVATION OF KALA NAMAK RICE
3866. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण
मंत्री be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of the impact of cultivation of
Kala Namak rice on the income of farmers in Siddharthnagar district, and if so, the details thereof
during the last five years;
(b) whether the Government has provided financial, technical and marketing assistance to
Kala Namak rice cultivators for increasing production, value addition, storage, processing and
transportation, and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government has any proposal to promote the export of Kala Namak rice and
facilitate access to international markets, and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृषि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)
(a): Yes. The area under cultivation and productivity of Kalanamak rice has increased in the
recent past augmenting the farmers’ income. Production in Siddharthnagar district of Uttar
Pradesh has increased to more than five times during 2018 to 2025. The sale price of Kalanamak
rice has also increased from Rs 40/kg in 2018 to Rs. 150/kg in 2026 resulting into more than
three fold increase in profitability vis-a-vis normal rice and boosting the number of farmers
cultivating Kalanamak paddy from 2915 in 2018 to 23000 in 2024.
(b): Both the Central Government and State Governments have provided financial, technical
and marketing support to Kalanamak rice farmers. Under the PM Formalisation of Micro Food
Processing Enterprises (PMFME) and One District One Product (ODOP) Margin Money Scheme
1(state funded), individual micro-units and FPOs setting up Kalanamak processing/ milling units
receive credit-linked capital subsidies up to 35% (max ₹10 lakh). The Government is also
promoting brand Kalanamak by organising Kalanamak Mahotsavs. A Common Facility Centre
(CFC) for Kalanamak rice in Siddharthnagar has been established under One District One
Product (ODOP) scheme to provide local farmers with modern processing, packaging, and
export-support facilities. The State Government has earmarked dedicated project funding for the
promotion, production, and processing of Kalanamak rice.
National Agricultural Research System under the aegis of ICAR is involved in
development of varieties and conservation of large number of land races of Kalanamak rice. In
addition to traditional Kalanamak varieties, six improved varieties viz. Kalanamak KN3. Bauna
Kalanamak 101, Bauna Kalanamak 102, Kalanamak Kiran, Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1 and
Pusa CRD Kalanamak 2 have been released and notified. The later two dwarf high yielding
varieties of Kalanamak have average yield of 4.5 tons/ha against 2.5 tons/ha of traditional
varieties. State Government has also notified the KVKs in Geographical Indication (GI) area of
Kalanamak for muti-location testing of new high yielding, climate resilient varieties for their
release. ICAR-Institutes/ Krishi Vigyan Kendras are facilitating the farmers in registration and
conservation of traditional Kalanamak rice varieties with the Protection of Plant Varieties and
Farmers Rights Authority, which has led to registration of more than 1700 land races and local
varieties of rice.
For further increase in the area of Kalanamak rice, additional seed indents are also
encouraged under Breeder Seed Program and around 15-20 quintals Breeder seed is produced
every year for downstream multiplication of foundation and certified seeds by the indenting
agencies. During last 5 years (2021-22 to 2025-26), a total of 389.6 quintals of quality seed of
Kalanamak paddy varieties has been produced and distributed to farmers.
(c): Yes. The Government promotes export of Kalanamak rice and facilitating access to
international markets through Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority (APEDA) linking regional Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) directly to
international buyers, facilitating export shipments to markets like Singapore and Nepal. Branding
of Kalanamak rice as "Buddha Rice" promotes its cultural legacy to target high-value markets in
Buddhist nations such as Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Myanmar. Siddharthnagar
and its surrounding Terai districts have been integrated into APEDA's Agri-Export Zone
framework for specialty rice, facilitating priority financial assistance for export packaging, residue
testing, and quarantine compliance.
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