Black rice farming brings hope to Rajshahi farmers

The increasing demand for black rice across the globe has led to a gradual rise in the cultivation of exotic and nutritious crops in parts of Rajshahi, under the facilitation of the Agriculture Department.

The farmers in parts of the country see the rising demand for black rice as a great opportunity to make a profit. These alternative rice varieties fetch better prices than conventional white rice.

Black rice, better considered a “superfood” for its nutritional benefits, is also called forbidden rice or “emperor’s rice”. In ancient China, this variety of rice was secretly cultivated and consumed only by the emperor to make sure his health and longevity.

Common people were being forbidden from growing or consuming it for themselves, hence earning its name as the forbidden rice. However, it is no longer forbidden, and for its health benefits, this variety has gained attention worldwide.

Similarly, it is now being cultivated in the Rajshahi district as well as many other parts of the country.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Rajshahi has encouraged local farmers for a long to opt for this variety of rice because of its economic viability.

“Under our facilitation, at least six acres of cropland was brought under black rice cultivation in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj and Natore districts,” said Sirajul Islam, additional director of Rajshahi DAE.

“The farmers are getting 15 maunds from each bigha of cropland, which is a promising yield. The farmers can get at least 25 kilogrammes of rice from one maund of paddy. One kilogramme of black rice can be sold for Tk 150 to Tk 200, which is higher than traditional white rice,” he added.

Mostafizur Rahman Tutul, an entrepreneur and owner of Organic Palli Agro Firms and Nursery in Sadar upazila, Natore, has cultivated this variety on his one bigha land and is expecting a yield of 10 to 15 maunds of black paddy. Of which ten maunds of rice can be obtained.

He said: “I have collected one kilogramme of the seeds from Mymensingh and my production cost is only Tk 13,000. If all goes well, I am expecting to get a yield of 250 kilogrammes and the market price would be between Tk 37,500 to Tk 50,000, which is higher than the other varieties.”

Black rice has a deep black colour and usually turns deep purple when cooked. Its dark purple colour is primarily due to its anthocyanin content, which is higher by weight than that of other coloured grains, said Mehedul Islam, an agricultural officer of Sadar upazila, Natore.

This superfood benefits heart and diabetic patients and offers hope to those who wish to control their weight. Among the various anthocyanins in black rice, one known as Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) demonstrates an appetite satisfying property by boosting adiponectin and decreasing blood levels of leptin, said Mahmudul Faruque, deputy director of Natore DAE.

Black rice has about 3 grams of fibre and 8.5 grams of protein per 100 grams of serving, while brown and red rice contains 8 grams and 7 grams of protein, respectively, for the same amount of serving. On the other hand, polished white rice contains only 6.8 grams of protein, said Sirajul Islam, additional director of Rajshahi divisional DAE.

This fibre helps sugar from the grain to be absorbed by the body over a longer duration of time, thereby maintaining consistent sugar levels and preventing the risk of diabetes. It also acts as a natural detoxifier, he added.

Consumption of black rice may also help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, a common factor in cardiovascular disease, is reduced by the anthocyanins contained in black rice. It lowers overall cholesterol levels as well. According to Mohammad Khalujjaman, director of the BRRI Central Office, black rice has been shown to actively reduce atherosclerosis.