Ajara Ghansal Rice; Export Quality Scented Organic Rice from Ajara, Maharshtra

What Is Ghansal Rice?

Ajara Ghansal Rice

Ghanasal rice is a Small grain Variety of rice majorly cultivated in the Ajara Tahasil area, The southern part of the Kolhapur district in Maharashtra. Ajara Ghansal is known for its taste, aroma, and organic nutrition quality. Ghansal rice is known as 'the king of rice'. Ghansal Rice is also well known for its medicinal characteristics. This rice is cultivated and harvested by using traditional methods for the last 200 years. 

Ghansal rice is principally a tropical crop that requires cool temperature and humidity for its growth. This variety of rice production is mainly dependent on climatic conditions. Therefore per hectare production of ghansal rice is lower than other varieties of paddy.  

Production of Ghansal Rice In Ajara

Ajara Tashil is surrounded by Sahyadri mountains, popularly known as the Western Ghats. This region is geographically favorable to produce Paddy crop. According to a state government agriculture department survey, over 2200 hectares of land is under ghansal rice cultivation in the Ajara tahasil. The cultivation period of paddy here is from Jun to September.  

Dabhil, Devarde, Shelap, Masoli, Shelap, Kitawade, Parpoli, Gavase, Pernoli, Suhale, Suleran are the well-known ghansal producer villages from the Ajara tahasil.

Traditional Methods of Ghansal Paddy Cultivation

There are so many different ways followed by farmers to cultivate paddy crops across India. The Ajara region's climatic conditions are suitable for paddy production. Farmers from Ajara are still using the traditional methods to cultivate ghansal rice. The main reason behind it is to maintain the natural taste and aroma of the ghansal rice. 

•  Preparation of paddy field:

Preparing the field for paddy crop

Generally, in May month before monsoon season, farmers start preparing for paddy fields. The land is plowed by bulls or buffaloes or tractors. Then compost or organic fertilizers are added to the soil. 

Ghansal Seeds planting

• Transplanting of pre-germinated seeding:

Ghansal paddy cultivation process

First, Paddy seeds are pre-germinated in another field like nursery plants. Later when the rain starts in full-fledged the water is stored in prepared paddy fields. When the soil becomes enough wet, the replantation of pre-germinated seeds is done

• Crop management:

Image credit- Krishi Jagran

For healthy growth of the ghansal paddy crop, it requires regular maintenance. Removing weeds timely and maintaining the appropriate water level in the crop is necessary.

•  Harvesting of paddy crop

Rice harvesting process Image Source-Pinterest

Harvesting of ghansal crop means collecting the mature paddy grain from the field. Traditionally the cutting of paddy crop is done with either a curved knife or a sharp-edged knife. After cutting all crops, it is collected at a dry area to separate the grains from the stalk through the threshing. 

Ghansal paddy crop collection, Image source- the guardian

Sometimes to save the damage of the grain, by beating the sheaves against the bars, the grains are separated from the stalks.

•  Collecting, cleaning, and drying of paddy grain:

Finally, paddy grains are collected and cleaned by farmers. Unwanted particles are removed out from grains and it is packed in jute bags after drying under sunlight.

Image source- daily pioneer

Thus, the cultivation of ghansal rice is done using the traditional method.  

   

Ghansal Paddy Production in recent 20 Years In Ajara

                

Item	The year 2001	The year 2011	The year 2020
No Of Villages Cultivating	98	21	35
Production Per Hector(QTL)	28-30	35-38	45-55
Area Under Cultivation (Hct)	900	200	2200
Rate Received for Paddy(Rs)	1500-1800/Qtl	2800-4000/Qtl	4000-5000/Qtl

We can clearly see that how ghansal rice production in Ajara fluctuated year after year. And also can be seen that in the year 2001 farmers from almost all villages of Ajara taluka were cultivating Ghansal rice. But due to less production ratio of this variety of rice, the area under cultivation was reduced to 200 hectares from 900 hectares.  

In recent years production of Ghansal rice has seen growth due to afford taken by the Ajara farmers association and the tahasil office Ajara. Ghansal Rice received Geographical Indication (GI) accreditation in the year 2016. Getting GI accreditation for Ghansal Rice was the major step taken by the local agricultural authority to register the geographic identity of the fragrant variety of the rice.  

Hybrid Ghansal Rice Production

As ghansal rice production is lower than other varieties of rice. Therefore farmers started to cultivate a hybrid variety of ghansal rice which help them to grow the productivity of the paddy. But it was found that the Natural aroma of original ghansal rice can not be seen in hybrid Ghansal rice. 

Original Ghansal rice production per hectare-: 45 to 55 Quintal

Hybrid Ghansal Rice production per hector-: 75 to 85 Quintal

Marketing Of Ajara Ghansal Rice 

This Variety of Rice has entered the market under the brand name Ajara ghansal. Ajara ghansal is being served to a targeted market only as it is expensive compared to other rice varieties. Initially, it was being sold in nearby district markets like Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Pune, and Mumbai. Nowadays there is a huge demand for Ajara Ghansal from all these places. 

Ghansal Rice Marketing

In the initial phase of the promotion of Ghansal rice, farmer and merchant from Ajara sold rice at lower prices in shopping malls, Big grocery stores in the cities to consumers. Later this rice variety is being sold on various online platforms like Amazon.com, Flipkart, etc. 

Price of Ghansal Rice

Ghansal Rice is sold at different prices at different markets. Generally, Ghansal rice is sold at 100 to 150 Rs. per Kg. If you visit Ajara taluka then you can buy ghansal rice at a lower price. 

Export of Ajara Ghansal Rice

After the constant effort of farmers' associations and agro producers companies from the Kolhapur district, Ajara rice is being exported to many foreign countries. After getting GI accreditation, Ajara Ghansal has been recognized for its unique quality across the globe. 

After opening the door of export for Ajara Ghansal, farmers from the Ajara got new hope. Farmer starts receiving a good return on investment in Ghansal production after exporting rice. 

Economics of Various varieties of Rice in Ajara

Variety	Production per acre Qtl	Avg Rate per Qtl	Avg income per acre
Ratnagiri	30-35	1500-1800	45000
Sonam	30-35	1500-1800	45000
Kolam	30-35	1500-1800	45000
Ghansal	15-20	4500-5000	60500

The above data is extracted from a survey made by a private organization for a fertilizer company in Ajara Taluka. This table of contents states that the production of other varieties of rice is higher than Ajara Ghansal rice. But the profit ratio of ghansal rice is more than other varieties of rice. 

The Ajara taluka farmers Association is focusing on producing more Ghansal rice in the region. They are proving good quality seeds of ghansal rice to the farmers. Also, the Maharashtra government supports the farmers to preserve and promote the scented rice variety of the western ghat region.

Note - Above article is for the general information of Ghanasal rice variety and provided information is taken from various online and offline sources. 

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References-:

1) Times of India  - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolhapur/Ghansal-rice-variety-set-to-attain-GI-status/articleshow/28578167.cms

2)MaharsathtraTimeshttps://maharashtratimes.com/maharashtra/kolhapur/ajara-ghansal-rice-after-gi/articleshow/60298835.cms

3) wipo-https://www.wipo.int/geo_indications/en/ 

4)beautifulmindstore-https://www.beautifulmindstore.com/single-post/get-to-know-ghansal-rice

5)Sahasa-https://sahasa.in/2020/12/01/ajara-ghansal-rice-ajara-taluka-kolhapur-district-maharashtra/

Thank You 

Team Udyog Guide