Mr. Upendra Singh, Co-Founder, Farm Trip Private Ltd, Jaipur, Rajasthan, elaborates on Kolam Rice: Meeting Local and Global Standards for Quality.
It has been observed that we are facing crisis in food production and quantity all over the country for both domestic and export purposes, and the quality is also not up to the mark. The grains exported from India have huge potential as we are the only country in Asia growing rice in large volume. Non-basmati rice is now accepted in the entire world, especially in Africa, Middle East Asia, and Gulf countries. There are quite a few challenges to meet the quantity, variety, and quality when we focus on export. After the outbreak of pandemic, it is observed that Kolam rice is hugely accepted pan India. Earlier it was used more in South India, but now the consumption has spread all over India. The major growers of this rice in India are mainly in South Indian states such as Karnataka which grows two yields per year, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The growers here are looking for partners to extend the market for Kolam rice which has good potential both domestically and internationally.
Kolam rice is a medium sized grain, smaller than basmati rice, and is a non-basmati rice group. There are a few varieties of the Kolam rice, such as PR 11, PR 14, etc. This rice is used for daily consumption widely in India and abroad. Basmati rice cannot be consumed daily as it is heavy and not easy to digest. Kolam rice is easy to digest and good for health also. It has a mild flavour, smaller than traditional basmati rice, spongy, and can be eaten without much difficulty. It has a minimal floral fragrance when cooked. The price is also competitive as it starts from Rs. 40 per kg to Rs. 60 per kg. It is affordable to all. It undergoes many processes such as parboiling, steaming, etc. This year, due to water shortage, Karnataka could not produce the two yields as it does always due to low water availability. Apart from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh also grow Kolam rice. These states mainly contribute to the production of Kolam rice.
The major rice varieties grown in India are BPT, Sona, HMT, Masoori, Sri Ram, Rupali, IR 64, and IR 8. Rupali is mainly grown in Bihar state. Sona rice is grown in Gujarat, Nagpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. The main varieties that are exported are IR 64, IR 8, BPT, Sona Masoori, and Swarna which are accepted in the international level in countries such as Africa, China, and Vietnam because of the nutritional value. IR 64 is parboiled, and IR 8 is raw rice. When parboiled, the length should not be more than 5 mm, moisture level should not exceed 14% which otherwise will spoil the rice quality, the broken percentage should not exceed 5%, and purity 92%. The difference between parboiled, raw, and steamed rice is steamed rice is half cooked, and raw rice is procured from the mill and sold. The rates fluctuate based on the varieties. The parboiled rice is sold at a lower price while raw rice is sold at higher prices. Swarna rice is smaller, round in shape, and different from Sona rice. The moisture level of the rice is checked first at the global level. Damage and discolour should not be more than 2% as it affects the quality, and the content is rejected at the port. We need to ensure the quality level is 100%. The cortex should be well built, round, and meet the other parameters. The packaging is done in 5, 10, 25. 40, and 50 kg in PPT or jute bags. The container stuffing is 16 MT per 20 ft.
India is exporting about 1.77 crore MT non-basmati rice to different countries across the world earning Rs. 51 thousand crores. The government is imposing much restriction on export. India has a record high export of grains in the world market and is doing business aggressively. The government insists that the domestic need has to be fulfilled first. But other countries are willing to buy rice at a higher price from India because of the quality. Since India is a diversified country, the varieties and quality of rice differ a lot. We are focusing on higher production of the non-basmati varieties so that we can cater to the export also. As much as 30% of our export goes to Bangladesh and China, and this number can be doubled with less restrictions from the government. Quality checking is done with RNR, HMT, Sri Ram and exported to Gulf countries where the rice consumption is more because of the labour from various countries. Gulf countries prefer Kolam, RNR, and HMT, while African countries prefer BPT, IR 64, IR 8, Sonar, and Swarna. These countries are willing to pay good amount as wheat flour is not accepted for export in the other counties, and rice is easy to export.
At the domestic market, Kolam rice is widely used all over the country, and its acceptance is spreading day by day. Mostly, the labour class is consuming in good quantity, and now upper and upper middle class is also accepting it for daily consumption rice as it has highly nutritious value and easy to digest. Companies like KRKPL, and LT Foods are entering into launching Kolam rice to meet the domestic demand in good volume. In North India, where wheat flour is used widely, Kolam rice is finding its place in their daily diet which is a good sign. Government is restricting the export as we are unable to meet the domestic demand. Companies like KRPB, LT, and Dawat are usually basmati players, but they have now entered into dealing with Kolam rice. In Karnataka they are looking for major investment in specific parts. With eCommerce widely spreading in India, everyone can use Kolam rice every day. Domestic demand has to be met as export cannot e everybody’s cup of tea. Domestic market is good for farmers, retailers, traders, and millers, and they can feel safe. With water problem last year, the production has come down now, and prices have gone up by 30%. It is a serious concern, and we have to focus more on it by growing more quality rice. More and more people should come forward to trade Kolam rice, spread its use, and if there is any use, people can contact us, and we will guide them. But infrastructure is a big challenge apart from government support. If these things are cleared, Kolam rice can give good yield and contribute to Indian economy.
How does Kolam ensure it meets the quality standards of the local community?
Quality standards pertain to the moisture and size of the grain which should not be more than 5 mm. The moisture level should not exceed 14%. Broken percentage should not be beyond 5%. These are the typical features of Kolam rice and its variants such as HMT, Sri Ram, Rupali as it is needed for the domestic market.
What steps are taken to ensure Kolam rice in the international market?
India’s rice is highly acceptable in the world market. The government is restricting the export since the last one year. The international market will take time to reach the segments. There is a need to control moisture which should not exceed 13%. Otherwise, it will be damaged in transit itself. We need to take care of it. The broken percentage should not exceed 3%, but it may be accepted up to 5%. These are the two parameters which must be fulfilled for exporting.
Can you explain the specific method used in cultivating and processing Kolam rice that contribute to its high quality?
While cultivating, hand cultivation is very good as it is easy to reduce moisture. When using machine it will be high. Hand cultivation is good for milling. The quality of infrastructure should be very good. There should be graders, sorting, and cleaning machines to remove the impurities. These are the major precautions we need to take at the time of milling. When exporting or dealing at the domestic level, the quality of the rice matters. Cleaning rice is very important apart from cleaning.
In what ways has the demand for Kolam rice changed over time in the local market, and what factors influence its popularity?
The main reason is that Kolam rice can be consumed daily. The Basmati rice is difficult to digest and takes time too. Kolam rice is easy to digest and very good for everybody for all age groups. It is sugar free with plenty of nutrition. After the pandemic, everybody is highly health conscious. In earlier days, rice was a major part of their food, but later wheat flour replaced the rice. But now rice again is entering the plate of people which is very good for everyone. It does not convert into fat and there are many scientific reasons for that.
Are there any challenges in maintaining and improving the quality of Kolam rice to meet both local and international standards, and how are they addressed?
In Karnataka, we are getting two crops every year, and it is the only state to do so. Due to water issue, we saw a decline in the production. States like Punjab can take up Kolam rice to get good yield. The main challenges that we face at the international market is when we export to Africa which is highly unstable in terms of payments. They are not good in payment. We need to be careful with them, and if there are Indian partners, we can believe them. African market is very big with high consumption rate. But payments are not good, and these are the major challenges in export market.
Can you please tell us what made you take interest in this field?
I am basically from Rajasthan. I am into Agri business since the last 10 years. I started my career with warehousing, procurement, and supply chain. Later I joined trading group, and I am working in this sector since the last 10 years. I procure rice and wheat pan India. I am interested in commodity trading as I can learn how to procure, start the supply chain, and get access to everyone’s plate as food is the basic need of life. I am more interested in seeing smile on everyone’s face and dong something for society, especially for the agriculture sector.
CONTACT: Mr Upendra Singh, Co-Founder,
Farm Trip Private Limited. Jaipur
Email: farmtrip01@gmail.com
Telephone: +919896869109
It has been observed that we are facing crisis in food production and quantity all over the country for both domestic and export purposes, and the quality is also not up to the mark. The grains exported from India have huge potential as we are the only country in Asia growing rice in large volume. Non-basmati rice is now accepted in the entire world, especially in Africa, Middle East Asia, and Gulf countries. There are quite a few challenges to meet the quantity, variety, and quality when we focus on export. After the outbreak of pandemic, it is observed that Kolam rice is hugely accepted pan India. Earlier it was used more in South India, but now the consumption has spread all over India. The major growers of this rice in India are mainly in South Indian states such as Karnataka which grows two yields per year, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The growers here are looking for partners to extend the market for Kolam rice which has good potential both domestically and internationally.
Kolam rice is a medium sized grain, smaller than basmati rice, and is a non-basmati rice group. There are a few varieties of the Kolam rice, such as PR 11, PR 14, etc. This rice is used for daily consumption widely in India and abroad. Basmati rice cannot be consumed daily as it is heavy and not easy to digest. Kolam rice is easy to digest and good for health also. It has a mild flavour, smaller than traditional basmati rice, spongy, and can be eaten without much difficulty. It has a minimal floral fragrance when cooked. The price is also competitive as it starts from Rs. 40 per kg to Rs. 60 per kg. It is affordable to all. It undergoes many processes such as parboiling, steaming, etc. This year, due to water shortage, Karnataka could not produce the two yields as it does always due to low water availability. Apart from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh also grow Kolam rice. These states mainly contribute to the production of Kolam rice.
The major rice varieties grown in India are BPT, Sona, HMT, Masoori, Sri Ram, Rupali, IR 64, and IR 8. Rupali is mainly grown in Bihar state. Sona rice is grown in Gujarat, Nagpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. The main varieties that are exported are IR 64, IR 8, BPT, Sona Masoori, and Swarna which are accepted in the international level in countries such as Africa, China, and Vietnam because of the nutritional value. IR 64 is parboiled, and IR 8 is raw rice. When parboiled, the length should not be more than 5 mm, moisture level should not exceed 14% which otherwise will spoil the rice quality, the broken percentage should not exceed 5%, and purity 92%. The difference between parboiled, raw, and steamed rice is steamed rice is half cooked, and raw rice is procured from the mill and sold. The rates fluctuate based on the varieties. The parboiled rice is sold at a lower price while raw rice is sold at higher prices. Swarna rice is smaller, round in shape, and different from Sona rice. The moisture level of the rice is checked first at the global level. Damage and discolour should not be more than 2% as it affects the quality, and the content is rejected at the port. We need to ensure the quality level is 100%. The cortex should be well built, round, and meet the other parameters. The packaging is done in 5, 10, 25. 40, and 50 kg in PPT or jute bags. The container stuffing is 16 MT per 20 ft.
India is exporting about 1.77 crore MT non-basmati rice to different countries across the world earning Rs. 51 thousand crores. The government is imposing much restriction on export. India has a record high export of grains in the world market and is doing business aggressively. The government insists that the domestic need has to be fulfilled first. But other countries are willing to buy rice at a higher price from India because of the quality. Since India is a diversified country, the varieties and quality of rice differ a lot. We are focusing on higher production of the non-basmati varieties so that we can cater to the export also. As much as 30% of our export goes to Bangladesh and China, and this number can be doubled with less restrictions from the government. Quality checking is done with RNR, HMT, Sri Ram and exported to Gulf countries where the rice consumption is more because of the labour from various countries. Gulf countries prefer Kolam, RNR, and HMT, while African countries prefer BPT, IR 64, IR 8, Sonar, and Swarna. These countries are willing to pay good amount as wheat flour is not accepted for export in the other counties, and rice is easy to export.
At the domestic market, Kolam rice is widely used all over the country, and its acceptance is spreading day by day. Mostly, the labour class is consuming in good quantity, and now upper and upper middle class is also accepting it for daily consumption rice as it has highly nutritious value and easy to digest. Companies like KRKPL, and LT Foods are entering into launching Kolam rice to meet the domestic demand in good volume. In North India, where wheat flour is used widely, Kolam rice is finding its place in their daily diet which is a good sign. Government is restricting the export as we are unable to meet the domestic demand. Companies like KRPB, LT, and Dawat are usually basmati players, but they have now entered into dealing with Kolam rice. In Karnataka they are looking for major investment in specific parts. With eCommerce widely spreading in India, everyone can use Kolam rice every day. Domestic demand has to be met as export cannot e everybody’s cup of tea. Domestic market is good for farmers, retailers, traders, and millers, and they can feel safe. With water problem last year, the production has come down now, and prices have gone up by 30%. It is a serious concern, and we have to focus more on it by growing more quality rice. More and more people should come forward to trade Kolam rice, spread its use, and if there is any use, people can contact us, and we will guide them. But infrastructure is a big challenge apart from government support. If these things are cleared, Kolam rice can give good yield and contribute to Indian economy.
How does Kolam ensure it meets the quality standards of the local community?
Quality standards pertain to the moisture and size of the grain which should not be more than 5 mm. The moisture level should not exceed 14%. Broken percentage should not be beyond 5%. These are the typical features of Kolam rice and its variants such as HMT, Sri Ram, Rupali as it is needed for the domestic market.
What steps are taken to ensure Kolam rice in the international market?
India’s rice is highly acceptable in the world market. The government is restricting the export since the last one year. The international market will take time to reach the segments. There is a need to control moisture which should not exceed 13%. Otherwise, it will be damaged in transit itself. We need to take care of it. The broken percentage should not exceed 3%, but it may be accepted up to 5%. These are the two parameters which must be fulfilled for exporting.
Can you explain the specific method used in cultivating and processing Kolam rice that contribute to its high quality?
While cultivating, hand cultivation is very good as it is easy to reduce moisture. When using machine it will be high. Hand cultivation is good for milling. The quality of infrastructure should be very good. There should be graders, sorting, and cleaning machines to remove the impurities. These are the major precautions we need to take at the time of milling. When exporting or dealing at the domestic level, the quality of the rice matters. Cleaning rice is very important apart from cleaning.
In what ways has the demand for Kolam rice changed over time in the local market, and what factors influence its popularity?
The main reason is that Kolam rice can be consumed daily. The Basmati rice is difficult to digest and takes time too. Kolam rice is easy to digest and very good for everybody for all age groups. It is sugar free with plenty of nutrition. After the pandemic, everybody is highly health conscious. In earlier days, rice was a major part of their food, but later wheat flour replaced the rice. But now rice again is entering the plate of people which is very good for everyone. It does not convert into fat and there are many scientific reasons for that.
Are there any challenges in maintaining and improving the quality of Kolam rice to meet both local and international standards, and how are they addressed?
In Karnataka, we are getting two crops every year, and it is the only state to do so. Due to water issue, we saw a decline in the production. States like Punjab can take up Kolam rice to get good yield. The main challenges that we face at the international market is when we export to Africa which is highly unstable in terms of payments. They are not good in payment. We need to be careful with them, and if there are Indian partners, we can believe them. African market is very big with high consumption rate. But payments are not good, and these are the major challenges in export market.
Can you please tell us what made you take interest in this field?
I am basically from Rajasthan. I am into Agri business since the last 10 years. I started my career with warehousing, procurement, and supply chain. Later I joined trading group, and I am working in this sector since the last 10 years. I procure rice and wheat pan India. I am interested in commodity trading as I can learn how to procure, start the supply chain, and get access to everyone’s plate as food is the basic need of life. I am more interested in seeing smile on everyone’s face and dong something for society, especially for the agriculture sector.
CONTACT: Mr Upendra Singh, Co-Founder,
Farm Trip Private Limited. Jaipur
Email: farmtrip01@gmail.com
Telephone: +919896869109