Kalanamak Kiran, the Best variety of rice to Benefit Farmers and Consumers Alike
RC Chaudhary*
Chairman, Participatory Rural Development Foundation, 59 Nahar Road, Gorakhpur, U. P., India
*Corresponding Author: RC Chaudhary, Chairman, Participatory Rural Development Foundation, 59 Nahar Road, Gorakhpur, U. P., India.
Published: September 22, 2025
Abstract
According to legend, Lord Gautam Buddha, after he received enlightenment, was returning from Bodha Gaya to his father’s kingdom in Kapilvastu, the villagers of Bajaha jungle (now Bajaha and Mathala villages) prayed blessing. Since then Kalanamak was cultivated in an area of 50,000 ha but declined later to 2,000 ha, near extinction. The decline of Kalanamak rice can be attributed to the advent of High Yielding Varieties rice since 1965, which yielded double of Kalanamak. The second reason was the absence of its improved variety, and the third reason, the neglect of Kalanamak by researchers and governments.