Guwahati, Dec. 7: Assam's aromatic joha rice is all set to get the geographical indication (GI) tag provided there is no opposition from any quarter. The office of GI under the ministry of commerce says the tag will be given in the next few months if there is no opposition.

"All the formalities and conditions towards getting the GI tag have been met. We have advertised it in our journal to inform people that we intend to provide the GI tag to joha rice. The application will be registered if no opposition is received within four months," the official said. GI is a mechanism employed to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods which possess certain special qualities or characteristics based on the climatic or production conditions unique to a geographical location. Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, and Seuj Satirtha, an NGO in Sivasagar, had moved the application for joha rice.

"Joha rice varieties are genetically distinct from other classes of rice cultivated in Assam and elsewhere. A study on diversity analysis at the DNA-level based on molecular markers clearly showed that joha rice varieties were distinct from others, as reflected in separate groups from other varieties of Assam rice," the report in the GI journal said.

AAU associate director (research) Prasanna Kumar Pathak, who made the application, said the joha GI status would be for 43 known varieties of joha which exist in the region.

It said the joha class of rice is unique in aroma and grain characteristics and distinct from other aromatic rice like basmati in biochemical and other quality attributes. "The uniqueness of joha rice is mainly attributed to particular climatic conditions prevalent in the area, together with varietal characters and systems of rice cultivation, adding to the best expression of aroma and flavour in the product. The aroma of joha rice is also considered to be distinctly different from basmati rice," the report stated.

In 2007, the first consignment of 17MT of joha rice was exported to three European countries - Germany, the UK and Switzerland - where it was in high demand.

Historically, joha rice, like khorika joha, finds mention in the 14th century Assamese version of the Ramayan ( Saptakanda Ramayana) attributed to poet Kaviraja Madhava Kandali. This work is also considered one of the earliest written scriptures in Assamese. According to the story, Kumbhakarn, the younger brother of Ravan, was woken up after Ravan prepared a heap of delicious food made of khorika joha.

The application says there is need to protect this rice as there is legitimate concern among the farming community, academicians and policy makers that the market potential of joha rice may be jeopardised by some unscrupulous traders or middlemen who sell other small grain aromatic rice developed elsewhere in the name of joha rice.