Govindobhog rice features in PM Modi's gifts to FAO chief, paddy farmers hopeful of sales boost
New Delhi, May 21
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during meeting with the Food and Agriculture Organisation Director-General Qu Dongyu in Italy, presented India's finest grains along with millet bars, highlighting the country's rich agricultural diversity and traditional food heritage.
This included curated samples of indigenous rice varieties from across the country, which include Red Rice from Kerala, Basmati rice from Gangetic plains, and Gobindobhog rice from West Bengal's Bardhaman.
The presentation of rice grains as gift to the FAO Chief has raised hopes of paddy farmers, who now anticipate a surge in the demand of those varieties and also subsequent in farmers' income.
Bardhaman, considered the "Granary of Bengal" is ecstatic over the development, with many paddy growers in the region seeing it as a possible "gamechanger moment" as they anticipate unprecedented surge in its demand following personal endorsement by the Prime Minister.
They say that the Govindobhog rice has made its way to foreign shores and with Prime Minister Modi personally gifting it to the FAO DG, this will have positive and promising ramification on the rice produce.
Abdul Malek, the Bengal Rice Mill Association President, remarked, "This is a matter of immense pride for both the farmers and us."
He noted that the aromatic Govindobhog rice is predominantly cultivated in East Bardhaman -- specifically in the Raina-1, Raina-2, and Khandaghosh blocks.
He expressed confidence that this development would boost farmers' interest in cultivating this paddy variety, leading to increased exports of the rice abroad and, consequently, greater profitability for the farming community.
Notably, Govindobhog rice is primarily cultivated in East Bardhaman, Hooghly, Nadia, and Birbhum.
The small-grained, aromatic rice is immensely popular in culinary preparations -- particularly in Payesh (rice pudding), Khichuri, and the Bhog (sacred food offering) prepared during religious festivals.
The Govindobhog rice was awarded geographical indication (GI) tag in 2017.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a smart diplomatic move. Highlighting India's agricultural diversity on a global platform like FAO is exactly what we need. The GI tag already gave Gobindobhog recognition, but this personal endorsement from PM Modi could be the gamechanger farmers are hoping for. Let's see if it translates into real income growth.
Great to see traditional varieties getting global attention. I tried Gobindobhog rice in a Bengali restaurant once—the aroma is incredible. If this leads to more exports, it's a win for Indian farmers and food lovers worldwide. Hope the government also supports with better marketing and logistics for small growers.
It's nice that PM is promoting our traditional rice varieties, but let's be honest—without proper MSP or procurement support, farmers still struggle. A gift to FAO chief won't magically fix their problems. The real gamechanger would be stable policies that ensure they get fair prices for their hard work. Just saying.
This is what we need more of—showcasing India's rich agri-heritage. From Kerala's Red Rice to Bengal's Gobindobhog, each variety tells a story. If FAO takes this seriously, it could also boost millet exports since PM included millet bars. Let's hope this isn't just a one-time photo op but leads to sustained support for our farmers. 🌾
Impressive gesture! India's rice biodiversity is amazing—didn't know about Gobindobhog before. As someone in the agri-trade sector, I can say this kind of high-profile promotion can really help niche varieties find international
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