Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 06 2024: The Chak-hao (black rice) available is Manipur vastly differs in taste when compared to the black rice produced in other places and as such, it is in high demand outside the state.
In addition, the market linkage outside Manipur for the black rice produced in the state is already set up.
Thus, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), Department of Agriculture project officer Kh Nimaichand has urged the farmers of the state to produce Chak-hao as abundantly as possible.
On Saturday, Nahakpam Food & Beverages and Freshies Fresh shipped its first consignment of five metric tonnes of Chak-hao to M/S Organic Foods, Kerala.
The consignment was flagged off by offices of Department of Agriculture and Economic Resource Development Organisation (ERDO) from a godown in Koirengei.
Speaking on the sidelines, project officer Kh Nimaichand said that Manipuri Chak-hao is in high demand in European countries and the marketing linkage for the same has already been set up.
He continued that the department has set a target to cultivate 900 lou parts of Chak-hao this year, and as such, urged farmers to produce the black rice in abundance so as to help increase their income.
ERDO secretary Nahakpam Shanta informed that apart from the consignment being sent to Kerala, another 10 metric tonnes of Chak-hao are in the process of being shipped to Europe.
If trade volume continues to increase, the income of the farmers will be greatly improved, he added.