Joha Rice of Assam
Joha Rice
Introduction
Joha is a variant of
Oryza sativa, its locally
grown in the northeastern part of India.
Its popular for its aroma and and its extraordinary
taste. The aroma of joha rice is due to
its content 2 acetyl-1pyrroline which makes its very different from the aromatic
rice basmati. Moreover elevated level of acetyl and pyrroline gives it the
sweet characterstic fragnance.(www.krishijagaran.com)
Assam has been conferred upon the GI tag of Joha Saul
or Joha rice or mi joha. Under the certificate
number 287 whose registration was applied by AAU,Jorhat and Seuj
Sarathi. Whereas the registration is validated upto 9-9-2023. (www.ipindiaservices.gov.in)
The rice variant
besides of its unique aroma has a lot of health benefits. As it has been
seen to be containing Proteins, lipids as well as antioxidants. It additionally
has a larger content of multivitamins than some other assortment of rice. (www.krishijagaran.com)
The joha rice
has different varieties and different constituents.Its also exported and its of
great market value. Though its not cultivated widely because of its low
yielding capacity as well as the fragnance that attracts more insect pests as
compared to other rice varients.
Websites like www.shoppingkart24.com etc deals with retail sale of joha rice. However the
retailer is once own personnel choice and its just a mere example.
In the next lines or topics to come we will be dealing
with economic importance of joha rice its brief on history and various such
information including some pests and diseases of rice when grown in the fields
of Assam.
Economic Importance
Rice is a important staple crop of India and the
world.
However its also used in various ways. Now a days
ready to eat rice instant or rice flakes are also in common.
All these increases the importance of rice as well as
its commercial value
When this topic arises in our mind we always think of
money or the costs of the special rice per kg.
The price however varies in different locations and
depending upon the seller. However the Rampal joha is available Rs 52 per kg.
Whereas the joha rice in unmentioned white variety is available at Rs 270 per
kg at the www.flipkart.in
However we can
be pretty sure that the rice when cultivated in the state can be a good source
of income. And moreover the various varities recently introduced with high
yielding capacity can help the farmers in future with handsome money.
Health Benefits
As we have also discussed earlier about the health
benefits. We would mention that
Joha rice with its flavinoids and polyphenolic
constituents helps us against ageing.
Its also a grood source of protein that can be
replaced by god sources such as meat or commercially produced eggs.
Its also rich in carbohydrates and in volatile oils.
The rice is richer in multivitamins. (www.zizira.com/blogs/plants/joharice )
Joha rice posses good anti-oxidant activities by
further extensive research, we can explore its medicinal value. (Habibur Rahman
et al )
Origin and classification
We all well know the orgin of rice accounts of Vavilov
(1926) according to which there are 12 centres of origin for rice. And we also
have learned about two species among other 20 species are dosmesticated. The O.sativa and O.glaberima.
The Oryza sativa has its origin in the south asian region and
has 3 sub-species. Indica, Japonica and Javaica.
As the Joha rice is vulnareable to lodging so we can
consider it under the sub-species indica.
Moreover Joha rice has various variants. Amongst all
the popular once are
Tulshi Joha, Kola Joha, Rampal Joha, Kunkuni Joha,
Manki Joha (www.wikipedia.org)
However some improved yielding varieties are Keteki Joha (a AAU developed variety)
Prerequisites for Cultivation
In this section we would be discussing about the
requirements of the rice plant or say we would briefly discuss about the
climate soil etc that are fit for cultivation of joha rice.
Joha rice is most suitably or primely cultivated in
Garo hills (www.wikipedia.com)
Whereas Joha is a Sali rice and is sown in may/june
and harvested in the month of October/November.
Since rice is grown in areas with high humidity and
hot climate with assured supply of waster along with sunshine for prolonged
time period.
Being a short day plant rice needs unitterupted dark
periods. And the water supply must be focused. The rainfall of around 1000mm is sufficient. In case of rainfall deficit areas or year we must
include irrigation. However water logging must be prevented.
Growing in the soil whose clay content is higher.
Cultivation Tecniques
When the prerequisites are completed or fulfilled.
Then we can move towards cultivation.
In case of agriculture tillage is the most important
culture.
Now at first we must have to go for choosing the
seeds. We can easily uy the seeds from the stores. The seeds after tillage and
bed preparation can be sown. Which is a good practise than direct broadcasting
into the fields which has a bit less productivity.
The rice needs tillage upto 1 feet deeper and is done
either by pair of ox (using a plough) or tractors.
The rice is tansplanted and then the cultural
practices are practised.
Weeding is a important cultural practise that must be
practised from time to time. Sometimes it facilitates pests and diseases.
In case of manures and fertilizers. Well rotten FYM
can be a good manure when mixed with soil during tillage operations. Moreover
the manures must be followed by fertilizers and that would be decided by the
variety as well as the soil.
Since Joha rice takes 120-160 days for maturity proper
care and timely cultural practises are very important to be followed.
Harvesting and Post Harvest
Harvesting of rice in our state is done by various methods.
Depending upon the farm size and the capital of the owner. People do manually
using a sickle and then threashing is dne sing Ox or powertillers. Theasher are
nowadays widely used for harvesting.
Farmers recently have also added combines to their
garages.
In case of Post harvest the Joha rice includes
Threashng and then Winnoing and then storing the paddy grains.
The grains are converted to rice using sellers and in
village terminology they are called mills.
The mills are the machines that helps in removing the
husk and bran from the edible part.
Storage is done in houses with proper care from pests
and rodents other organisms that can cause a damage to the crops.
Diseases
Joha rice is prone to diseases and pests. Its due to
its unique aroma and taste.
We have tried to mention a few disesases of Joha rice
below.
1.Yellow Stem borer
Its caused by Scirophaga
incertulus here the innemrmost part of the stem is affected and it appears
black. Hence its also named as dead heart. Moreover when attacked at
reproductive stages the panicle becomes white with immature and white
grains.called white ear head.
Chemically it can be controlled by using Phosphamidon
40% SL.
2.Leaf borer
Its caused by Criaphalocrosis
medinalis
Initially the lraves start folding and and then white
stripes appear on them.
It can be controlled by Phosphamidon 40% SL.
3.Rice Hispa
Its caused by Dicladispa
armigers it attcks the stem and
leaves and they get dried up.
Chemically it can be controlled by triazophos 20% EC.
4.Case Worm
Its due to Nymphula
depuntalis in this case thr worm
cuts the terminal portion of the leaveas and forms a case. When if the cut part
floats in the water then the disease spreads. It can be easily controlled by
limited irrigation. Water lodding must be prevented.
conclusion
North east is a land of resources. The unidentified
resources are called local or endemic. But we must have to preserve them.
Joha rice was also such resources until it was
identified.
After identification the rice joha is another
resources that have the capability of being another crop after tea that can be
sold world wide.
People becoming more health conscious and more aware
about the rice can be proved a milestone for the sellers of the rice.
Further new and improved varieties are expected from
time to time. And may its cultivation thrills.
1.
Aromatic
Joha Rice of Assam- A Review A.Das, Tushar, V. Keshari, L.Rangan department of
biotechnology IIT,Guwahati. www.indianjournals.com
2.
Research
paper available in www.researchgate.net “Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of
citrus Macroptera Var. Annamensis and Oryza sativa Var. Joha rice: medicinal
plants of Assam” by Habibur Rahman, A.M Dutta and Dr Chinna Eswaraiah Anurag
Pharmacy College. Der pharmacia Lettre.
3 “Joha Rice-the Special Aromatic Rice of
North East India” published at www.zizira.com
4“What’s
Special about JOHA- the aromatic Rice of North East India ” by Chintu Das
published at www.krishijagaran.com
3.
www.swadeshi.com/search/joha+rice
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