National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) in Cuttack has taken up a project to help farmers produce and export aromatic rice.
NRRI director Amaresh Kumar Nayak said the institute has supplied high-yielding varieties of aromatic rice to members of farmer producer organisations (FPO)s of four selected districts — Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Koraput — for cultivation.
“The institute will not only promote aromatic rice cultivation in these districts, but also connect with firms which can export the produce. The NRRI has signed a tripartite agreement with an export firm and the FPOs for better production and marketing of
the product,” Nayak said.
“We will provide technical backup with respect to variety, package and practices and developing the standards. The procuring firm has a buyback agreement with the FPOs so that farmers will not face any problem of procurement and get a fair price for their produce ,” Nayak added.
He said they are exploring the possibilities of exporting a consignment of aromatic rice within a few months. “As the international markets look for both long and short grain aromatic rice, we should produce, package and market the product to meet the export quality,” Nayak said.