CULTIVATION OF KALA NAMAK RICE

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare reports that the cultivated area and productivity of Kalanamak rice in Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, have risen sharply, with production increasing more than five‑fold between 2018 and 2025 and the sale price climbing from Rs 40 kg⁻¹ in 2018 to Rs 150 kg⁻¹ in 2026, boosting farmer profitability. The central and state governments have extended financial, technical and marketing assistance, including credit‑linked subsidies up to 35 % (max ₹10 lakh) under the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) and One District One Product (ODOP) Margin Money Scheme. A Common Facility Centre under ODOP provides modern processing, packaging and export support. Six improved Kalanamak varieties with yields up to 4.5 t ha⁻¹ have been released, and 389.6 quintals of quality seed were distributed during 2021‑26. Export promotion is facilitated through APEDA, linking FPOs to buyers in Singapore, Nepal and other Buddhist‑nation markets under the “Buddha Rice” brand.