One district one product

The Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh is naturally gifted with a huge biodiversity of rice landraces, which has been traditionally conserved for centuries by the tribal and non-tribal peoples of Balaghat. Among the several popular rices of Balaghat, the Chinnor is such a popular rice variety of Balaghat that the name “Balaghat Chinnor” itself is a brand. Because of its unique taste, aroma and softness, Chinnor rice is popular in the feasts, in the marriage celebrations and religious ceremonies from time immemorial. To safeguard this unique heritage of Balaghat; the “Balaghat Chinnor” was granted Geographical Indication (G.I.) Tag on 14th September 2021 by Intellectual Property Rights, Govt of India and was also selected as a commodity under “One District-One Product”.

Although One District-One Product : “Balaghat Chinnor” is produced in the entire Balaghat district, but high quality Chinnor is mainly grown in Waraseoni, Lalbarra, Khairlanji and Katangi block. Chinnor producer clusters are selected based on suitable land, productivity and quality for Chinnor production. Further, to increase the production of Chinnor, technical training is given on irrigation, pest management, disease management, seed production and harvesting of Chinnor crop. District Level committee is constituted for determination of procurement rate, grading, shortening, packaging, testing and pricing of ready Truthful Level seed of Chinnor. In future, the area under ​​Chinnor production would be expanded upto 5000 hectares. Natural and organic production of Chinnor will be promoted using appropriate techniques.

There are two ODOP based FPOs ‘Chinnor Valley Producer Co. Ltd. Waraseoni’ and ‘Lalbarra Chinnor Farmer Producer Co. Ltd. Lalbarra’ are formed under central financed scheme ‘Formation and Promotion of 10K FPOs” in waraseoni and Lalbarra block, which are engaged in the rice production, seed production, processing, value addition and marketing of “Balaghat Chinnor”. About more than 20 processors and traders are involved in the processing, value addition and marketing of “Balaghat Chinnor”. In this connection 67 Primary Processing Units for Chinnor processing, 35 custom hiring centres for crop production and 26 warehouses for storage are established under central financed scheme Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).

Chinnor producing farmers are now getting a price of Rs. 5000-6500 per quintal for their Chinnor paddy, which is thrice compare to the M.S.P. on paddy (Rs. 2183). In addition to this some farmers are also now selling their self processed “Balaghat Chinnor” rice for Rs. 10000-12000 per quintal. It seems farmers are going to achieve double income by marketed their ODOP crop Chinnor.