'Pushar rice' being sold as baby food in Italy

Raipur, Jan 29 (UNI) Consumed as 'prasad' along with curd and vegetable during 'Halchhat' festival, 'Pushar' rice is sold as 'baby food' in Italy.

''Pushar rice is the most natural and organic foodgrain available in the world and is found only in Chhattisgarh. The rice variety grows naturally in ponds in almost all villages of the state.

However, it grows in about 250 ponds in Ratanpur in Bilaspur district,'' Chhattisgarh State Seed and Agriculture Development Corporation President Chandrashekhar Sahu told UNI.

The rice is sold at Rs 80 per kg during festival. The rice is quite in demand due to its nutritional value besides religious importance.

A German company has installed a plant for processing 'Pushar' rice in Gurgaon. The processed rice is sold at high price in Italy as 'baby food'.

UNI SM-PS 1726