Expert stresses research on storing Chak-hao
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 17 2021:
With Chak-hao (black rice) becoming one of the most popular rice varieties in the international market, the state needs researches on storing de-husked Chak-hao rice considering its short shelf life.
According to an agriculture expert, it is a welcoming step on the part of the government to take up steps to export Chak-hao as it will definitely encourage several farmers to cultivate nutritious rice variety in their farmlands.
CM Biren recently flagged off a consignment of 1 MT of Chak-hao through North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMARC).
Henceforth, cultivation of Chak-hao will become a profitable practice.
However, the need of the hour is to work on extending the shelf life of de-husked Chak-hao since the rice is prone to pest infestation after around two months.
In case the exported rice does not face any difficulties in storing, the state will get more demands for export of Chak-hao.
However, there are possibilities of losing export potential if the exported rice gets infested by pests or insects.
Some years back, a particular firm exported de-husked Chak-hao rice in airtight sealed packaging but they got pest infestation and their supply chain was disrupted.
Upon research, it was found that a particular pest infest the crop just before ripening and leave, their eggs, which then get hatched after getting de-husked.
Considering this fact and market potential of the rice breed, agricultural institutes like CAU, IBSD and others need to conduct researches on the process of drying harvested paddy and temperature for packaging to extend the shelf life of Chak-hao.
On the other hand, maximum of the farmers in the state lack interest in cultivating Chak-hao unlike in the past and the government should identify the reason for the farmers not interested in Chak-hao plantation and take up necessary measures to encourage them.
At the same time, the government should intervene in the commercial farming of Chak-hao in UP since the rice variety has already received GI certification, the expert added.