New Delhi: The area under cultivation and productivity of Kalanamak rice have increased significantly in recent years, boosting farmers’ incomes, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Bhagirath Choudhary said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Production of Kalanamak rice in Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh, increased more than five-fold between 2018 and 2025. Its sale price rose from Rs 40 per kg in 2018 to Rs 150 per kg in 2026, making its profitability more than three times that of normal rice. The number of farmers cultivating Kalanamak paddy also increased from 2,915 in 2018 to 23,000 in 2024.
The Centre and Uttar Pradesh government are providing financial, technical and marketing support to farmers. Under the PMFME and ODOP schemes, processing and milling units can receive credit-linked capital subsidies of up to 35%, capped at Rs 10 lakh. A Common Facility Centre has also been established in Siddharthnagar for modern processing, packaging and export support.
The government is promoting improved Kalanamak varieties, including high-yielding dwarf varieties with an average yield of 4.5 tonnes per hectare, compared with 2.5 tonnes for traditional varieties.
Over the past five years, 389.6 quintals of quality Kalanamak seed have been produced and distributed to farmers. The government is also promoting exports through APEDA, with markets including Singapore and Nepal, while branding Kalanamak as “Buddha Rice” to tap high-value markets in Buddhist countries.
