Ajara Ghansal rice

Ajara Ghansal Rice (आजरा घनसाळ तांदूळ)[1]
Geographical indication
DescriptionAjara Ghansal is an aromatic rice cultivated in Maharashtra
TypeAromatic rice
AreaAjara taluka, Kolhapur
CountryIndia
Registered31 March 2016
Official websiteipindia.gov.in

Ajara Ghansal is a variety of non-Basmati aromatic rice mainly grown in the Indian state of Maharashtra.[2][3][4] It is a common and widely cultivated crop in Ajara taluka of Kolhapur district.[5]

Name

Ajara Ghansal Rice is a prized crop in Ajara and so named after it. "Ghan" means aroma while "Sal" means elegantly thin in the local language.[6]

Local name

It is known as Ajara Ghansal Tandul (आजरा घनसाळ तांदूळ) or simply only as Ghansal Tandul.[7] Tandul means rice in the local state language of Marathi.[8]

Description

Ajara Ghansal rice is a traditional, aromatic, and indigenous rice variety from Maharashtra, known for its distinct aroma, taste, and nutritional value.[9][10] It is characterized by short bold grains with a 3.61:5.5mm ratio and a creamy white appearance. Ajara Taluka, nestled amidst hills, leverages rainwater coming down from the hill slopes for rice cultivation.[11] The nearby Hiranyakeshi river, just 5 km away, plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal soil moisture levels, ensuring ideal conditions for rice growth.[12] The rice variety is renowned for its distinctive aroma, which is attributed to a complex blend of compounds, including alcohols, aldehydes, and esters . Ghansal rice has a firm, tender, and non-sticky texture, with no chalkiness which is seen in other varieties. It is less sticky than other rice varieties too with an elongation ratio significantly higher than Basmati rice.[13][14][15][16]

Uses

Culinary Uses

  • Ideal for traditional Maharashtrian dishes, it is also typically served during special occasions such as marriage ceremonies and festivals.

Industrial Applications

Geographical indication

It was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status tag from the Geographical Indications Registry under the Union Government of India on 31 March 2016 (valid until 25 March 2034).[18]

Ajara Taluka Shetkari Vikas Mandal from Ajara, proposed the GI registration of Ajara Ghansal rice. After filing the application in March 2014, the rice was granted the GI tag in 2016 by the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai, making the name "Ajara Ghansal rice" exclusive to the rice grown in the region. It thus became the first rice variety from Maharashtra before Ambemohar and the 11th type of goods from Maharashtra to earn the GI tag.

References

  1. ^ कालेकर, रणजित (22 May 2020). "आजऱ्यातील 120 घनसाळ उत्पादकांना जी. आय मान्यता". Marathi News Esakal (in Marathi). Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  2. ^ Desai, Shitalkumar; Jadhav, Akesh; Ramteke, Akash; Dhole, Vinod; Bapat, Vishwas; Gaikwad, Nikhil (2022). "Genetic improvement of two Indian non-basmati aromatic rice landraces through physical and chemical mutagenesis". International Journal of Radiation Biology. 98 (1): 82–89. doi:10.1080/09553002.2021.1987567. ISSN 1362-3095. PMID 34587468. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  3. ^ Jiang, Meng; Wu, Xinyang; Zhao, Tianlun (6 September 2023). Advanced Breeding for Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crops. Frontiers Media SA. ISBN 978-2-8325-3314-7. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Are GI tags the boost that indigenous rice needs?". HT Digital Streams Ltd. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  5. ^ "218-ajara-ghansal-rice" (PDF). Organization for an International Geographical Indications Network. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  6. ^ "GHANSAL RICE RESULT OF GREEN REVOLUTION: A CASE STUDY OF AJARA TALUKA DIST KOLHAPUR". Studies in Indian Place Names. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  7. ^ "घनसाळ आता आजरेकरांचाच". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  8. ^ Raeside, I. M. P. (19 November 2013). Marathi Reading Course. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-75245-3. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  9. ^ Kumar, Nitish (2024). Plant Mutagenesis: Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Landscapes. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-031-50729-8. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  10. ^ Penna, Suprasanna; Jain, S. Mohan (4 April 2023). Mutation Breeding for Sustainable Food Production and Climate Resilience. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-981-16-9720-3. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Ghansal rice variety set to attain GI status". The Times of India. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Freshwater fish fauna of Hiranyakeshi River, the northern Western Ghats, India". ResearchGate GmbH. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  13. ^ "GOVERNMENT OF INDIA GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS JOURNAL NO.76 NOVEMBER 27, 2015" (PDF). Intellectual Property India. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  14. ^ "GI tag conserves fragrance, rich taste of Maharashtra's 7 agri products". The Times of India. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  15. ^ Bhattacharya, Niharika Sahoo (13 September 2022). Geographical Indication Protection in India: The Evolving Paradigm. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-981-19-4296-9. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  16. ^ Bahar, F. A.; Bhat, M. Anwar; Mahdi, Syed Sheraz (11 November 2022). Secondary Agriculture: Sustainability and Livelihood in India. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-031-09218-3. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  17. ^ "CHAPTER - IV PROFILE OF AJARA TALUKA" (PDF). Shivaji University. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Seven agriculture products get GI tag". The Times of India. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2024.