Wayanad Jeerakasala rice
{{Short description|Type of non-Basmati aromatic rice}}
{{Infobox geographical indication
| name = Wayanad Jeerakasala rice
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| alternative names =
| description =Wayanad Jeerakasala rice is an aromatic rice cultivated in Kerala
| type =Aromatic rice
| area = Wayanad district
| country = India
| registered = 4 October 2010
| material =
| official website ={{URL|https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GirPublic/Application/Details/186|ipindia.gov.in}}}}
Wayanad Jeerakasala rice is a variety of traditional, non-Basmati, medium-grained aromatic rice with golden yellow colour mainly grown in the Indian state of Kerala.{{cite book |last1=Laladhas |first1=K. P. |last2=Nilayangode |first2=Preetha |last3=Oommen |first3=Oommen V. |title=Biodiversity for Sustainable Development |date=15 November 2016 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-42162-9 |page=232 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ceADQAAQBAJ&dq=Wayanad+Jeerakasala+rice&pg=PA232 |access-date=15 December 2024 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Organization |first1=World Intellectual Property |title=Food Security and Intellectual Property - How the Private and the Public Sectors Use IP to Enhance Agricultural Productivity |date=29 September 2011 |publisher=WIPO |isbn=978-92-805-2122-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4JfuDwAAQBAJ&dq=Wayanad+Jeerakasala+rice&pg=PA72 |access-date=15 December 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Manoj |first1=E. M. |title=Wayanad farmer creates Ashoka Chakra using tambo art |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/wayanad-farmer-creates-ashoka-chakra-using-tambo-art-to-promote-rice-cultivation/article66064466.ece |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The Hindu |date=28 October 2022 |language=en-IN}} It is a common and widely cultivated crop in Wayanad district.{{cite book |last1=Verma |first1=Deepak Kumar |last2=Srivastav |first2=Prem Prakash |last3=Nadaf |first3=Altafhusain B. |title=Rice Science: Biotechnological and Molecular Advancements |date=7 December 2018 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-351-13656-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yAF-DwAAQBAJ&dq=Wayanad+Jeerakasala+rice&pg=PT39 |access-date=15 December 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Manoj |first1=E. M. |title=On a 13-acre Wayanad park, rice is the star |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/on-a-13-acre-wayanad-park-rice-is-the-star/article30030514.ece |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The Hindu |date=20 November 2019 |language=en-IN}}{{cite book |last1=Lalitha |first1=N. |last2=Vinayan |first2=Soumya |title=Regional Products and Rural Livelihoods: A Study on Geographical Indications from India |date=4 January 2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-909537-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivqNDwAAQBAJ&dq=Wayanad+Jeerakasala+rice&pg=PT71 |access-date=15 December 2024 |language=en}} The other variety from the same region, Wayanad Gandhakasala rice is known for its sandalwood-like flavor, while Wayanad Jeerakasala rice resembles cumin seeds in both appearance and taste and are so unique from one another.{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Shatanjiw Das |last2=Rao |first2=Udayagiri Prasada |title=Genetic Improvement of Rice Varieties of India |date=2004 |publisher=Today and Tomorrow's Printers and Publishers |isbn=978-1-55528-291-2 |page=700 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dPhGAAAAYAAJ&q=Jeerakasala+payasam |access-date=15 December 2024 |language=en}}
Under its Geographical Indication tag, it is referred to as "Wayanad Jeerakasala Rice".
Name
Description
List of characteristics and facts about Wayanad Jeerakasala Rice:
=Characteristics=
- Wayanad Jeerakasala Rice is famous for its fragrance and aroma of Cumin.{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Shatanjiw Das |last2=Rao |first2=Udayagiri Prasada |title=Genetic Improvement of Rice Varieties of India |date=2004 |publisher=Today and Tomorrow's Printers and Publishers |isbn=978-1-55528-291-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dPhGAAAAYAAJ&q=jeerakasala+cumin |access-date=17 December 2024 |language=en}} Its uniqueness is attributed to the climatic conditions, varietal characters, and organic cultivation methods. Grown in Wayanad's valley bottom, the low temperature regime encourages the cultivation of this scented rice variety.{{cite book |last1=Roy |first1=Chandan |title=The Role of Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture and Allied Sciences |date=17 July 2018 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-351-12526-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jDNlDwAAQBAJ&dq=Wayanad+Jeerakasala+rice&pg=PT170 |access-date=15 December 2024 |language=en}}
=Cultivation=
- Wayanad Jeerakasala Rice is cultivated in the Nancha season (Kharif) using traditional knowledge and practices.{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Aleena |title=Why climate change studies on rice production are important in Wayanad |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/why-climate-change-studies-on-rice-production-are-important-in-wayanad-74387 |website=Down To Earth |access-date=15 December 2024 |language=en |date=25 November 2020}} The tribes of Wayanad, including Kurichyas and Kurumas, rely on paddy for their livelihood and food security.{{cite journal |last1=Gopikrishna Warrier |first1=S. |title=Rice genome under threat in unique rice growing valley |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nindia.2016.9 |journal=Nature India |access-date=17 December 2024 |language=en |doi=10.1038/nindia.2016.9 |date=23 January 2016}} The Wayanad Chettis, Kurichya, and Kuruma tribal groups traditionally cultivate this variety, committed to conserving it for future generations.{{cite web |last1=Freese |first1=Tina |title=Kerala's 72-YO 'Guardian of Native Paddy' has Saved 54 Rice Varieties in 20 Years |url=https://thebetterindia.com/307285/cheruvayal-raman-wayanad-kerala-farmer-saves-native-paddy-rice-seeds-video/ |website=The Better India |access-date=15 December 2024 |date=26 December 2022}}
=Usage=
- This rice is used for preparing Ghee rice, also called "Neichore", a delicacy of the Muslims of Kerala, and is a major Mappilah cuisine.{{cite book |last1=Bhattacharya |first1=Niharika Sahoo |title=Geographical Indication Protection in India: The Evolving Paradigm |date=13 September 2022 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-981-19-4296-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BdiIEAAAQBAJ&dq=Wayanad+Jeerakasala+rice&pg=PA201 |access-date=15 December 2024 |language=en}} Wayanad Jeerakasala rice is also used for preparing Uppuma, Payasam, Puttu, and rice flakes (aval).{{cite news |last1=Service |first1=Express News |title=Organic farm expo in Ernakulam evokes good response |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2022/Apr/10/organic-farm-expo-in-ernakulam-evokes-good-response-2440481.html |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The New Indian Express |date=10 April 2022 |language=en}}
Geographical indication
It was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status tag from the Geographical Indications Registry, under the Union Government of India, on 4 October 2010 and is valid until 22 September 2029.{{cite news |last1=Kallungal |first1=Dhinesh |title=Indigenous Kaipad Rice Gets Geographical Indications Tag |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2014/Jun/09/indigenous-kaipad-rice-gets-geographical-indications-tag-622813.html |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The New Indian Express |date=9 June 2014 |language=en}}
Kerala Agricultural University from Thrissur & Wayanad Jilla Sugandha Nellulpadaka Karshaka Samithi from Wayanad, proposed the GI registration of Wayanad Jeerakasala rice.{{cite book |last1=Mohanty |first1=Samarendu |last2=Chengappa |first2=P. G. |last3=Hedge |first3=Mruthunjaya |last4=Ladha |first4=J. K. |last5=Baruah |first5=Sampriti |last6=Kannan |first6=Elumalai |last7=Manjunatha |first7=A. V. |title=The Future Rice Strategy for India |date=7 June 2017 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-809297-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iv2pDQAAQBAJ&dq=Wayanad+Jeerakasala+rice&pg=PA295 |access-date=15 December 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Kerala Agri University tops among institutions securing GI tags for proposed products |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/features/agriculture/kerala-agri-university-tops-among-institutions-securing-gi-tags-for-proposed-products-1.8155923 |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=English.Mathrubhumi |date=22 December 2022 |language=en}} After filing the application in September 2009, the rice was granted the GI tag in 2010 by the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai, making the name "Wayanad Jeerakasala rice" exclusive to the rice grown in the region.{{cite book |last1=Blakeney |first1=Michael |last2=Siddique |first2=Kadambot H. M. |title=Local Knowledge, Intellectual Property and Agricultural Innovation |date=22 June 2020 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-981-15-4611-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T9fsDwAAQBAJ&dq=Wayanad+Jeerakasala+rice&pg=PA206 |access-date=15 December 2024 |language=en}} It thus became the third rice variety from Kerala after Pokkali rice and the 20th type of goods from Kerala 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.