Archive · 1 Dec 2025
Rare Bengal Kalojira Rice Registered for Protection
A very special and almost forgotten type of rice called Bengal Kalojira, which has a black husk and a unique smell, has been officially registered by the Indian government.
This rice was mentioned in old books from 1876 and 1877.
Scientists and farmers have been working to save this rice for many years.
Now, it will be protected so that big companies can't copy it or change its name.
The rice takes a long time to grow, about 145 to 155 days, and the plants are very tall.
It doesn't produce a lot of rice, but it is special and can be used to make delicious dishes like payesh and pulao.
Farmers will start growing more of this rice, and in a few years, people in Bengal will be able to buy it in the market.
Bengal Kalojira, a rare aromatic rice with a black husk, has been registered under the PPV&FRA.
This is the sixth traditional aromatic rice variety from Bengal to be registered, following others like Gobindobhog and Harinakuri.
The registration protects the rice from being cloned or renamed by multinational corporations.
The rice takes 145–155 days to mature, grows up to 135 cm tall, and yields 2.6 to 3.2 tonnes per hectare.
BCKV plans to distribute seeds to farmers to encourage wider cultivation, with commercial production expected in a few years.
- Who
- Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV) and Siksha Niketan farmers’ society
- What
- Registration of Bengal Kalojira rice under PPV&FRA
- When
- Registered in 2022, application process took three years
- Where
- Bengal, India
- Why
- To protect the rare rice variety from cloning and name changes by MNCs, and to promote its cultivation and marketing
- Rice Variety
- Bengal Kalojira
- Registration Authority
- Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA)
- Maturation Period
- 145–155 days
- Plant Height
- 130–135 cm
- Yield
- 2.6 to 3.2 tonnes per hectare
- Cultivation Regions
- Gangetic alluvial and red-laterite regions of Bengal
- Conservation Efforts
- Siksha Niketan farmers’ society for 20 years
- Project Investigator
- Mrityunjay Ghosh, BCKV professor