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Black Rice Cultivation in India - Prospects and Opportunities

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Chronicle of Bioresource Management 2022, 6(2):044-048

Chronicle of Bioresource Management

CBM An International E-magazine
June 2022 Popular Article

Open Access Black Rice Cultivation in India –

Corresponding Author
Sanjoy Saha Prospects and Opportunities
e-mail: ssahacrri@[Link] Sanjoy Saha1*, S. Vijayakumar2, Sanjana Saha3, Ashirbachan
Citation: Saha et al., 2022. Black Rice Cultivation in Mahapatra4, R. Mahender Kumar5 and R. M. Sundaram6
India – Prospects and Opportunities. Chronicle of
Bioresource Management 6(2), 044-048.
Abstract
Copyright: © 2022 Saha et al. This is an open access Black rice is known for its high nutritional value and is a source of iron, vitamin
article that permits unrestricted use, distribution and E, antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, zinc and contains more protein than
reproduction in any medium after the author(s) and brown rice. In India, it is grown in a large area in Manipur for a long time
source are credited. and is popularly known as Chak-hao, and desserts made from black rice are
Data Availability Statement: Legal restrictions are served as major feasts. As such, it offers several health benefits, including
imposed on the public sharing of raw data. However, boosting eye and heart health, protection against certain forms of cancer, and
authors have full right to transfer or share the data in aiding weight loss. Black rice is a healthier alternative to white rice that can
raw form upon request subject to either meeting the be used in all of the same ways. There are great prospects to promote black
conditions of the original consents and the original rice cultivation in major rice-growing states of India and doing so will help
research study. Further, access of data needs to meet our country to achieve nutritional security.
whether the user complies with the ethical and legal
obligations as data controllers to allow for secondary
use of the data outside of the original study.
1. Introduction
Conflict of interests: The authors have declared that Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the second most important cereal in the
no conflict of interest exists. world and it is the staple food for most Asians and over 90% of
the world’s rice is produced and consumed in Asia. India is the
second-largest rice-producing country in the world and the crop
contributes over 42% to the annual food grain production of the
Key word s: country (Vijayakumar et al., 2021a). It is the staple food for more
Anthocyanin, Black rice, Forbidden rice, Nutritional than 65% of the country’s population and also the most important
value, Prospects source for meeting the calorie and dietary protein needs of the
people. Mostly, white or brown rice is consumed in the world
whereas black rice is consumed by a very small portion of people
in Asia during the special occasions. It is a medium-grain, non-
glutinous heirloom rice with a deep purple hue and a nutty, slightly
sweet flavour. The dark colour of the grain is due to anthocyanin, a
powerful antioxidant. Black rice has a deep black colour and usually
turns deep purple when cooked. It is suitable for creating pooridge,
A rt ic le H isto r y dessert, cake, bread, kheer, noodles and many other dishes. The
Japanese researchers analyzed the genome of 21 black rice varieties
Article ID: CBM111
and found that the specific gene that triggers the plant to produce
Received on 05th April 2022
large amounts of anthocyanin (Oikawa et al., 2015).
Received in revised form on 10th May 2022
Accepted in final form on 24th May 2022 In India, it has been playing a significant role in the socio-cultural

A u t h o r's Address 044

1
Principal Scientist, ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha (753 006), India
2
Scientist, 5Principal Scientist, 6Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, Telangana (500 030), India
3
Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam (785 013), India
4
Assistant Professor, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha (761 211), India

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 Saha et al., 2022
Black Rice Cultivation in India – Prospects and Opportunities

practices of the indigenous Meitei community of Manipur 3. Types of Black Rice

for a long time (Asem, 2015). The Chak-hao Amubi is
one type of sticky black rice that is indigenous to Manipur. 1. Black sticky rice: It has a sticky texture and the grain
‘Chakho’ means delicious while ‘Ambui’ means black. In size is shorter. It is used to make sweet dishes in Asian
Manipur, it is generally served on special occasions and countries. It is also known as Black glutinous rice.
festive events. After cooking, the black hue turns purple 2. Italian black rice: It has a rich aroma and the grains
and it has a slightly nutty flavour. Till now, Manipur is are long in size.
the highest producer of black rice in India. 3. Black japonica rice: It has a mild sweet spiciness.
Black rice also called forbidden rice because black rice was 4. Thai black Jasmine rice: It is originated in Thailand and
once reserved for the Chinese Emperor, for whom it was combines Jasmine rice with Chinese black rice. Floral
meant to ensure health and longevity. Historically, black Aroma is a characteristic of jasmine rice in Thailand
rice was considered to be a royal delicacy and forbidden and due to combination, it is also shown in Thai black
for common people in Asian countries such as China Jasmine rice.
and Indonesia (Kushwaha, 2016). In China, during Table 1: Prominent varieties of black rice in different states
the imperial period, common people were not allowed of India
to store/cultivate black rice without the approval from
authorities hence it was called ‘forbidden rice’ or ‘imperial State Variety Major characteristics
rice’ or emperor’s rice or purple rice or longevity rice. Manipur Chak-hao Leaves and husks are light
black in colour. Short duration
2. Prospects of Black Rice in India cultivar is grown twice or thrice
in a year
Growing black rice, which has its roots in north-east
India, is becoming popular in other regions as well, Tamil Karapu Ka- Duration - 140 day. Average
among farmers. It’s extensively grown in Odisha, West Nadu vani, Karungu- yield 1 t/acre. But few farmers
Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Jharkhand and ruvai, Kattuy- are getting even upto 2 tones/
commonly consumed in Manipur. The demand for anam, Mappil- acre.
lai Samba
black rice has been increasing in today’s world because
of its superior nutritional quality due to the presence of Maha- Kalabhat -
antioxidants and phenolic compounds. It is also rich in rashtra
beneficial amino acids like lysine and tryptophan which Odisha Kalabhati Husk purple in colour, while the
possesses health benefits. Phenolic donate free radicle rice is black in colour). It grows
hydrogen act as singlet oxygen quenchers and protect up to 5 to 6.5 feet in height and
the cell constituents against oxidative damage caused by changes its colour every week.
free radical molecules. Black rice is generally consumed The total duration of the vari-
along with the bran due to the presence of anthocyanin ety is 150 days (long duration
and is sold as unmilled rice. cultivar). Kalabhati is pruned
once it reaches 2 to 3 feet to
Black rice is found in larger supermarkets these days encourage more productive
in the country at very high market price. Due to its tillers which increase the total
high nutritional value and market price, there are great yield and productivity per unit
prospects to promote the cultivation of black rice in area. The average yield potential
major rice-growing states in the country. Many State is 12 to 15 quintal/acre.
Agricultural Universities (SAUs) have started work to Northeast Burma Black Direct seeding – 125 days
evaluate the performance of black rice varieties available states Transplanting – 135 to 145 days
in Manipur and other parts of north-eastern States
Other promi- These varieties have black co-
with suitable production technologies. Initiatives should nent varieties lour husk and red colour rice.
be taken to identify the potential areas of black rice are Kari Mun- The peculiarity of some variet-
cultivation and adequate awareness about its nutritional duga, Karin- ies of black rice is that its roots,
values and market price to the farmers of that particular gellu, Kari stems, leaves and panicles are all
region to promote black rice cultivation in the country. Jeddu and Na- black in colour.
varadanta

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 Chronicle of Bioresource Management 2022, 6(2):044-048
Black Rice Cultivation in India – Prospects and Opportunities

4. Major Health Benefits from Black Table 2: Nutritional value of black rice
Rice Nutrition 45 grams of uncooked black rice
The three major benefits of eating black rice are: Calories 160
• It has great antioxidant properties Fat 1.5 grams
• Its anti-inflammatory actions Protein 4 grams
• Appetite, weight and fat-controlling properties Carbohydrates 34 grams
Other benefits Fiber 4.7 grams per 100 grams
• Black rice is a good source of antioxidants that boosts Iron 6% of the Daily Value (DV)
immunity levels and helps the body stave off various Fatty acids 0g
ailments and infection Cholesterol 0 mg
• It contains a large amount of anthocyanin, an ingredient Source: Malia Frey (2020)
that is capable of lowering the risk of a heart attack. It
plays an important role in preventing plaque buildup in 5.1. Rich in Antioxidants
artery walls. Anthocyanin is more capable of controlling The outermost layer of the grain (pericarp), contains
cholesterol levels than any other food supplement immense amounts of the antioxidant-anthocyanin even
available today.
higher than any other grain, including brown rice, red
• It also prevents the onset of a series of illnesses like rice, red quinoa, or other coloured whole grain varieties.
Alzheimer’s disease. Its consumption helps to prevent The deep black or purple hue of the black rice is a
and cure certain types of cancer. marker of its high antioxidant properties. Anthocyanin
5. Nutritional Importance of Black Rice provides several health benefits like anti-ageing,
preventing cardiovascular disease, and restricting free
Mostly, white or brown rice is consumed in the world but radical movements which can cause a variety of diseases
recently black rice has also gained importance because of like diabetes and even cancer. It can also help improve
its high nutritional value. Having black rice in your diet brain function reduce inflammation and lower the risk
is the easiest way of protecting ourselves from diseases. of obesity (Sharma et al., 2018). Since black rice doesn’t
Black rice contains a higher amount of nutrition that undergo any refining or processing, it is able to retain
helps for better human growth. Modern nutritional its antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Black rice
science has shown that coloured rice is more nutritious also contains another important antioxidant - Vitamin
than white rice, even after milling. E, which is useful in maintaining eye, skin, and immune
 It has 9.1 grams of protein per 100 grams, while, white health.
rice has 6.3 grams of protein per 100 grams 5.2. Natural Detoxifier
 It contains 18 different amino acids, carotene and The phytonutrients present in black rice help the body in
several other essential vitamins cleaning disease-causing toxins (caused by free radicals).
 Prevents Risk of Diabetes: It has a lower glycemic index, Black rice helps the liver (one of the most significant
which is beneficial for diabetic patients and improves detoxifiers of the body) eliminate unwanted substances
the production of adiponectin in the body which play a through its antioxidant activity.
central role in the development of type 2 diabetes, obesity
5.3. Good Source of Fiber
and cardiovascular disease in humans. To ward off the risk
of diabetes and obesity, it is advised to consume whole The black rice has about 4.7 grams of fiber per 100 g. This
grains instead of just refined carbohydrates. rich fiber content helps in regulating bowel movements,
 Prevents Risk of Obesity: Black rice decrease levels of and prevents constipation, diarrhoea and bloating. Fiber
the hormone leptin, which is responsible for appetite- also binds with toxins and waste within the digestive tract
regulating. and flush it all out of the system on completion of the
cycle of digestion and gives the body a satiated feeling
 In addition to beneficial pigments, they often contain after consumption.
higher amounts of minerals like iron and zinc and,
sometimes, more protein, which improves the health of 5.4. High Protein Content
people. The reason for nutritionist asking to cut down rice
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 Saha et al., 2022
Black Rice Cultivation in India – Prospects and Opportunities

consumption is because of its high carbohydrate versus like Manipur’s Chak-Hao, it is used to make payasam, a
very less protein content. On contrary, black rice offers traditional sweet from South India.
an increased amount of protein content over other
common rice varieties. It contains 9.1 g of protein in a 7. Production Technology of Black
100 g serving, while brown and red rice contains 8 g and Rice
7 g of protein respectively for the same serving. On the
other hand, polished white rice contains only 6.8 g of 7.1. Climate preference for black rice
protein. Thus, eating protein rich black rice will alleviate Black rice prefers a warm climate and long growing
protein malnutrition in Indian population (Vijayakumar conditions of 3 to 6 months. It is generally sown in the
et al., 2021b). month of June to July and harvested in January. For better
5.5. Better Heart Health germination, it requires a temperature of at least 21℃.
Low temperature during maturity is highly necessary for
Eating black rice may have a positive impact on
higher yield and quality.
cholesterol levels too. The anthocyanin found in black rice
reduces the Low-Density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol 7.2. Cultivation of black rice
also known as the bad cholesterol, which is a common Healthy seeds should be used for seed purposes. 1% salt
contributor to cardiovascular diseases. It also brings down solution is used to remove inferior and chaffy seeds. Seed
the total cholesterol levels. rate - 3 to 5 kg for one acre. Planting two seedlings per
hill is normally recommended. Wider spacing facilitates
6. Economic Importance of Black Rice strong plants and reduces lodging. Planting of two
in India seedlings per hill normally followed. Seeds of black rice
6.1. North-East region are soaked in water and after pre-germination, they are
broadcasted in the puddled field. For good yield, it is
Black rice cultivation can generate great employment also required to remove weeds as and when required.
opportunities and farmers can earn higher profit from the Fertilization is also practiced for increasing yields
sale of black rice due to its superior price. People living in nowadays. Green manures like Sesbania spp. and plants
Manipur in India’s Northeast have been growing Chak- like Azolla and Anabaena are mostly being used to meet
Hao, the Indian variant of black rice and sold in the local the nutrient requirement of crops. Mostly black rice is
markets at about Rs. 200 per kg or even more. The black produced through organic farming.
glutinous aromatic rice of Manipur is in demand in the
domestic market, as well as has possibilities for export. 8. Future Research Need
The black aromatic rice of Manipur is served in standard
No systematic work on the improvement of black
hotels as a top-rated variety. Rice flake prepared from
glutinous aromatic rice has been taken up. However,
black rice is becoming popular. Today, black rice is being
germplasm collection, characterization and evaluation
cultivated in Assam and also in Uttarakhand, as its market
of these aromatic rice cultivars have been made in many
grows along with the world’s appetite for antioxidant-
research institutes. As the domestic demand for the
rich, gluten-free staples. The recent successful venture
of the Union Government at Amuguripara in Goalpara black glutinous aromatic rice of Manipur increases,
district in Assam, where a total of 12 tonnes of black rice efforts are being made to develop high yield varieties
was produced in 13.2 hectares, is an inspiring example. without losing the grain’s quality, cooking quality and
It shows by providing infrastructure, market support and aroma. Black rice requires significantly less water and
financial incentives, black rice can, indeed, be good bet promoting its cultivation across the country will help
for Indian rice producers and consumers, domestic as in lifting farmer’s income and save irrigation water.
well as foreign. There’s also an international market that is waiting to be
penetrated. The idea of black rice cultivation, therefore,
6.2. South India is catching on. The price of black rice is definitely more
In the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, people have been lucrative for farmers to make the switch. With marketers,
using their own black rice variety, Kavuni Arisi, which the organizations and e-commerce portals working overtime
old Chettiar traders had apparently brought with them to reach out to an increasingly receptive market extending
from Burma. The cv. Kavuni Arisi is not a water guzzler beyond India, the universe of takers for Chak-hao and
like its hybrid cousins, thrives well in the arid districts other varieties of Indian black rice is only going to grow.
of Tamil Nadu like Pudukottai and Karaikudi. And Cultural beliefs and practices have a symbiotic relationship
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 Chronicle of Bioresource Management 2022, 6(2):044-048
Black Rice Cultivation in India – Prospects and Opportunities

with the conservation of agro-diversity. Understanding Kushwaha, U., 2016. Black Rice: Research, history and
such relationship is critical for in situ conservation of crop development, Springer, Switzerland.
diversity in traditional agroecosystems for sustainable Malia Frey, 2020. Black Rice Nutrition Facts and
development of local communities. Black rice germplasms Health Benefits. Dec. 2. Available at [Link]
must be included in the All-India Rice Research Project [Link]/black-rice-nutrition-facts-and-
based in Hyderabad, which will not only show its health-benefits-5083028. Accessed on 16-04-2022.
potential throughout India but also open the eyes of Oikawa, T., Maeda, M., Oguchi, T., Yamaguchi, T.,
enterprising farmers. Tanabe, N., Ebana, K., Yano, M., Ebitani, T.,
Izawaa, T., 2015. The Birth of a Black Rice Gene
9. Conclusion and Its Local Spread by Introgression. The Plant
Rice is the staple food crop in our country. Promoting Cell 27, 2401–2414. DOI: [Link]
black rice cultivation and its consumption will improve tpc.15.00310
the nutritional status of poor farming communities. Sharma, S., Chunduri, V., Kumar, A., Kumar, R., Khare,
Research on black rice should be initiated in major P., Kondepudi, K.K., Bishnoi, M., Garg, M.,
institutions to improve its genetic potential. Also, the best 2018. Anthocyanin bio-fortified colored wheat:
package of production technology should be developed Nutritional and functional characterization. PLoS
for each variety under different ecosystems. The state ONE 13(4), 1–16. [Link]
governments, where rice cultivation is a major enterprise, pone.0194367.
should take initiative to promote black rice cultivation. Vijayakumar, S., Dinesh, Kumar., Dinesh, Jinger.,
A niche market can be established primarily for export Bhargavi, Bussa., Panda, B.B., 2021a. 4R nutrient
purposes. stewardship based potassium fertilization for dry-
direct seeded rice-wheat cropping system. Indian
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Asem, I.D., Imotomba, R.K., Mazumder, P.B., Laishram, Vijayakumar, S., Sivashankari, M., Gobinath, R., Sanjoy,
J.M., 2015. Anthocyanin content in the black Saha., Prabhu, G., 2021b. Alleviating malnutrition
scented rice (Chak-hao): its impact on human through agronomic bio-fortification using value-
health and plant defense, Symbiosis 66(1), 47–54. added fertilizers. Indian Farming 71(01), 18–21.

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