Importance of Red Rice (Deep Water Rice) Production and Its Potential of Export from Dhemaji District of Assam

Red kernelled rice is gaining importance in recent years due to its higher nutritive content as well as health advantages. It is rich in fibre, iron, Vitamin B1 & B2, zinc and calcium. Because of its importance and a good potential for export the present study was undertaken in Dhemaji district of Assam with the objective to find out the economics of production and scope of marketing of red kernelled rice. From the investigation it was found that red kernelled rice is cultivated in deep water areas of the district and 40% of the total rice area is under red kernelled rice. The production very low with an average production of 21q/ha. The benefit cost ratio was found to be 1.29 and only two marketing channels existed in the district. A company viz. Nature Bio Foods Ltd. (NBFL) was the main company which procured all the production of red kernelled rice from the producers in Dhemaji district which has its Office at Gogamukh. About 10000tons of red rice is being exported outside the district every year to other states and even other countries like USA, UK and European countries. The price spread was found to be high though there are few intermediaries in the marketing channel. From the investigation it can be concluded that there is much scope of increasing the area, production and productivity of red kernelled rice in the district provided processing centers are set up in the district so that the farmers can get a better price for their produce.