A week after in-principle agreement between Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, confusion prevails over the supply of Jaya variety of rice. It turns out that Andhra Pradesh has stopped growing Jaya variety of rice. As Andhra Pradesh officials asked their counterparts to send a few samples of rice, which Kerala presumed as Jaya variety, it appears that Kerala knocked the doors of a wrong State ahead of Onam festival in September.
Farmers in East Godavari district cultivate MTU 3626 ( Bondalu in local parlance) in large area. Cultivation of Jaya, a variety from International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), was introduced way back in 1965 and was discontinued long back following introduction of many other high yield varieties. Farmers in East Godavari district prefer cultivating MTU 3626, which is also known as Prabhat, in view of high yield and returns.
Kerala prefers boiled rice for variety of reasons, including long shelf life after cooking. The prices of boiled rice have shot up significantly in view of fast approaching festival. It necessitated a meeting between Kerala Civil Supplies Minister P. Thilothaman and his team with their counterparts here a week ago.
The Supplyco, a grocery arm of Kerala government, is procuring boiled rice through e-tenders at ₹ 35 a kg, and if Andhra Pradesh supplies the same at a lesser price, it is ready to sign an agreement with AP Civil Supplies Corporation.
When contacted, Special Chief Secretary (Agriculture, Civil Supplies) B. Rajasekhar said, “Jaya is a very old variety. It is not being cultivated now. What they (Kerala) refer to Jaya could be MTU 3626. We asked them to send a few samples so that we can compare it with the rice grown here.”
Andhra Pradesh was one of the States that used to grow Jaya variety and process and despatch it as Jaya boiled rice to Kerala. B ondalu has taken over its place many years ago and that is what is being sent to Kerala.
“The farmers have switched over to the Prabhat or Bondalu variety, which is grown in large area in East Godavari district. Lodging resistant varieties such as MTU 1061, MTU 1075 are gaining momentum in Godavari delta,” explained Agriculture Deputy Director (Planning) Z. Venkateswara Rao.
However, Andhra Pradesh Rice Millers Association (APRMA), Upland Area Rice Millers Association (UARMA) disagree. APRMA president Gummadi Venkateswara Rao and UARMA president Valluri Suribabu continue to contend that “Jaya variety of rice is being sent to Kerala”. But, they insist that the farmers were cultivating Bondalu.
