Highlights
- India has sent its first ever batch of GI-tagged Joha rice from Assam to the UK and Italy .
- The aromatic rice variety received its GI tag in 2017 and is grown across 21,662 hectares in Assam.
- The shipment was arranged by APEDA and exported by Kolkata-based Safe Agritrade Pvt Ltd.
Joha rice is a fragrant variety of rice grown only in Assam. It got its Geographical Indication tag , a special label that protects traditional products in 2017.
The rice is known for its lovely smell, fine grains and rich taste and is becoming popular in high-end markets around the world.
Assam grows around 43,298 metric tonnes of Joha rice each year across 21,662 hectares, mainly in districts like Nagaon, Baksa, Goalpara, Sibsagar, Majuli, Chirang and Golaghat.
Growing global reach
This is not the first time Joha rice has been exported. APEDA previously sent one metric tonne to Vietnam and two metric tonnes to five Middle Eastern countries — Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
The UK and Italy batch was packed at Pratik Agro Food Processing in Guwahati and sent by Kolkata firm Safe Agritrade Pvt Ltd, which specialises in exporting rice and spices.
APEDA said the goal was to help farmers in north-east India earn more money by connecting them directly with buyers abroad.
With more people around the world looking for traditional and healthy grains, Joha rice is seen as having great potential in top international markets.
The move is part of India's bigger push to sell more home-grown special products overseas and put more money in the pockets of local farmers.
