Hemant Famring

Kalanamak rice is a premium, aromatic rice variety primarily grown in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, India. Commonly known as the “Buddha Rice,” tradition holds that Lord Buddha offered this grains to the people of Kapilvastu when he visited the region after attaining enlightenment. The rice gets its name from its distinctive black husk (Kala) and its salt-like (Namak) white kernel inside. It is highly celebrated for its elongated grains after cooking, soft texture, high elongation ratio, and a rich, distinct aroma that fills the room. Beyond its culinary appeal, Kalanamak rice is nutritionally superior to common white rice, as it is rich in micronutrients like iron and zinc, and has a lower glycemic index, making it a alternative.

Kalanamak is a scented rice of Nepal and India. Its name means black husk (kala = black; the suffix ‘namak’ means salt). This variety has been in cultivation since the original Buddhist period (600 BC). It is popular in Himalayan Tarai of Nepal i.e., Kapilvastu, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, where it is known as the scented black pearl. It was featured in the book Speciality rices of the world by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In 2012, it was granted the Geographical Indication tag by the Government of India.

Acreage under this variety has declined sharply, pushing it towards extinction, for reasons including:

• Panicle blast epidemics in 1998 and 1999
• tall stature of the crop causing lodging^{[clarification needed]}
• long time harvest (6 to 7 months)
• poor quality seeds and research support

Kalanamak was grown widely in Kapilvastu and Uttar Pradesh‘s Tarai belt, which comprised districts Siddharth Nagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Maharajganj, Basti, Gonda, and Gorakhpur. Until the 1990s, the variety made up more than 10% of the total rice cultivation area in Siddharthanagar. However, acreage growing this variety in this district declined to <0.5% of total rice cultivation during 2002. Diviam Aahar is best company who has best rice in the market and they are helping small scale farmers to sell at best price.

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.

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 (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.