Aromatic Joha rice being shipped to Europe

Guwahati, May 3 (UNI) The first consignment of 17.5 mt of aromatic 'Joha' rice, produced in Asom, was today dispatched to European market through a Haryana based export firm.

An aromatic and organic variety of rice called Joha is indigenous to Northeast India. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) took the initiative to send the sweet-smelling rice variety to European market where Indian basmati has gained popularity.

The consignment is the produce of a special pilot project of organic Joha rice undertaken by the Union Agriculture Ministry in three districts of Asom involving 154 select farmers.

The APEDA struck the deal with Haryana based Sunstar Overseas Limited immediately after the North East Business Summit held in New Delhi last month. The export farm sent an expert to Asom to gather the consignment from different rice mills in the state.

Joha rice produced in Asom was much sought after variety of Indian rice after Basmati because of its unique aroma and organic farming indigenous to the Northeast India.

The Joha rice pilot project sponsored by othe Union government and implemented by Asom state agriculture department, has so far covered 92 hectares of land in three districts of Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Darrang.

UNI