Development and use of organic protocol to promote Kalanamak rice (Oryza sativa) and its certification under PGS mode

Aromatic Kalanamak is a prized and heritage rice variety of north-eastern Uttar Pradesh. It was on the brink of extinction down from peak acreage of50,000 hectares. There were no released varieties of Kalanamak and quality of land races had deteriorated. Due to poor quality, yield and income farmers abandoned its cultivation. PRDF developed Kalanamak KN 3 was notified in 2010, and 2 high yielding versions (50% higher yield) Bauna Kalanamak 101 and Bauna Kalanamak 102 developed through hybridization were identified by the Department of Agriculture Uttar Pradesh in 2015 for release. Protected under PPV & FRA since 2011, and registered under Geographical Indications since 2014, protocol for its organic production has been developed. Many combinations of organic inputs were tested in multi-location trials but maximum yields were obtained in the treatments where Trichoderma (5 kg ha⁻¹) and Pseudomonas (10 g kg⁻¹ seed) together were used in either with farmyard manure-FYM (10 t ha⁻¹) or Bhumi Shakti (1.8 t ha⁻¹) or Herbozyme (40 kg ha⁻¹) or green manure (25 kg seed ha⁻¹). These combinations were significantly superior from Trichoderma or Pseudomonas was used with Herbozyme or FYM or Bhumi Shakti. A clear case of “Synergistic effect” of Trichoderma +Pseudomonas was observed. Based on these observations, protocol for organic production was perfected and 1,000 farmers were trained. Using organic protocol the yield increased, rather than decreased as commonly perceived, under organic production. Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) promoted by the Government of India as cheapest and best system of organic certification, was used for organic certification. PRDF recognized as the Regional Council for PGS certifications is best placed in promoting it. Kalanamak's area increased in 2015 to 21,000 hectares due to higher yielding and better quality Kalanamak varieties under organic production system and farmers profiting from it.