Maharashtra firm markets Chak-hao as Chhattisgarh product
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 12 2024: Amid the rising global demand for Manipur's Chak-hao (aromatic black rice), which is known for its health benefits as well as taste, a Maharashtra-based company has been found marketing the black rice, which has already received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, as a native product of Chhattisgarh.

The matter came to light after report of a firm in Maharashtra packing Manipur's Chak-hao as Chhattisgarh rice and photographs of the rice packet went viral on various social media platforms.

The black rice was found to have been packaged and marketed by the Maharashtra-based company called Native Again Foods LLP, Mumbai Gamdevi, HG Road, JK Tower under license no 11522002000276 and brand name, "Imperial Black Rice" .

The packet described "Chak-hao or Kala Bhaat" as a native product of Chhattisgarh and closely linked with the culture, in addition to being highly beneficial to human body.

Chak-hao, which is an indigenous product of Manipur, is in high demand across the country and abroad.

As such, it is being exported in huge consignment outside the state and other countries.

Apart from being a nutritious and tasty food, it is gluten free and has high protein content, along with fibre, iron, manganese, magnesium, selenium and phosphorus.

It is a high value food with antioxidants.

As Chak-hao became widely known for its properties, the Consortium of Producers' of Chak-hao (Black Rice), Manipur registered the same under the Geographical Indications (GI) of Intellectual Property of India on December 26, 2017 .

The GI application (No 602) was awarded the GI Tag certificate (No 364) on April 20, 2020, with the registration validity extending till December 25, 2027 .

Any individual or company found selling such a GI tagged item as their own indigenous product is liable for punishment under the Geographical Indications Act.

Thus, the big question is how did a Maharashtra-based company package and market Chak-hao as a natural product of Chhattisgarh, using its original name, "Chak-hao" .

Additionally, concerns have been raised if anyone outside Manipur could market other GI tagged products of Manipur, such as Tamenglong Orange, Kachai Lemon and Sirarakhong Chilli Hathei Chilli' as their own natural products.

Meanwhile, following the controversy surrounding the wrong description of the origin of Chak-hao, Native Again Foods LLP described Chak-hao as an "indigenous rice variety grown in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam grown for over 1000 years under ideal climatic conditions" on its website.

It further stated the rice was consumed only by royal families in ancient times, which increased their life span, as per legends.

The package is currently "sold out" according to the website.

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