* A Los Angeles-based NRI contacted a local NGO to purchase the rice
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Sept 10: Boka Chaul, an indigenous rice item which recently got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, is set to be promoted as Assam’s magic rice in the US.
Nitin Patel, a Los Angeles-based Gujarati NRI has contacted Lotus Progressive Centre (LPC), an NGO based in Nalbari district with a plan to promote Boka Chaul as the magic rice from Assam in the US.
LPC is involved in the promotion and preservation of the native variety of rice in several villages in Lower Assam’s Nalbari district.
“The NRI businessman, who deals in rice in the US, contacted us after getting the news that Boka Chaul had got the GI tag. We are convinced in Patel’s sincerity to promote the indigenous rice. The NRI will purchase a good quantum of Boka Chaul from local farmers here and promote the same in the US by serving in different restaurants and eating joints as a pilot project,” Hemanta Baishya, a farming expert and coordinator for LPC said.
Patel assured the LPC that if the pilot promotion is successful, he would order Boka Chaul for purchase in bulk.
The Boka Chaul or Assamese soft rice is unique as it does not require any cooking. People can eat such rice by just soaking it in water at room temperature. It is known for its nutritious content and is recommended during pregnancy. It is also consumed during hot and humid summer days as it cools the stomach.
Baishya said since agricultural produce cannot be dispatched via courier, the rice could be sent through Patel’s brother who is a businessman based at Surat in Gujarat and who regularly exports things to the US.
Boka Chaul is a winter rice or sali which is sown in the third and fourth week of June. It is mostly cultivated in Nalbari, Barpeta, Goalpara, Baksa, Kamrup, Dhubri, Kokrajhar and Darrang districts in lower Assam.
It is categorized under class 30 of agricultural goods which includes tea, coffee and cereals.