Kalonunia rice

Kalonunia rice is a variety of non-Basmati, aromatic, black textured small rice mainly grown in the Indian state of West Bengal.^[2][3][4] It is a common and widely cultivated crop in districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar along with some parts of Darjeeling & Kalimpong districts of West Bengal.^[5][6][7][8]

Kalonunia rice (কলোনুনিয়া চাল)
Geographical indication
Description	Kalonunia rice is an aromatic rice cultivated in West Bengal
Type	Aromatic rice
Area	Northern parts of West Bengal[1]
Country	India
Registered	02 January 2024
Official website	ipindiaservices.gov.in

Under its Geographical Indication tag, it is referred to as "Kalonunia Rice".^[9]

Name

The word "Kalonunia" is derived from "Kalo", meaning black in the state language of Bengali, representing the black-husked grain, and "Nunia", indicating a local rice group of West Bengal. Kalonunia is also reported as Kala nenia, Kala nina, or Kala nooniah.^[10]

Local name

It is known as Kalonunia chaal (কলোনুনিয়া চাল) or simply only as Kalonunia.^[11] "Chaal" means rice in the local state language of Bengali.^[12]

Description

Some of the uses and characteristics of Kalonunia rice:^[13][14]

Characteristics

• It is noted for its vibrant black husk appearance and non-sticky texture. This blast resistant rice variety has a wide genetic base providing protection against pests, diseases, pathogens, and climate fluctuations. It also requires less fertilizer compared to other varieties.

Uses

• This rice is used as an everyday plain rice, as an alternative to Basmati. It is also used to prepare traditional sweet dishes, grain dust for local sweet dishes like Pithe and Patisapta, and Payesh during rituals and special functions. Additionally, it is used to make puffed rice, known locally as Muri, Bhat, and in the preparation of Bhat (boiled rice), Polao, or Bhog (Khichdi).

Geographical indication

It was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status tag from the Geographical Indications Registry under the Union Government of India on 2 January 2024 (valid until 11 March 2034).

State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) from Narendrapur, proposed the GI registration of Kalonunia rice. After filing the application in March 2021, the rice was granted the GI tag in 2024 by the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai, making the name "Kalonunia rice" exclusive to the rice grown in the region.^[9] It thus became the third rice variety from West Bengal after Tulaipanji rice and the 26th type of goods from West Bengal to earn the GI tag.

The GI tag protects the rice from illegal selling and marketing, and gives it legal protection and a unique identity.