Assam Agribusiness & Rural Transformation Project Promotes ‘Joha’ Rice Variety’
Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) is promoting Premium Quality Rice (PQR), particularly Joha, through market demonstrations.
IRI’s Best Management Practices (BMPs) and technical advisory support this effort.
Demonstrations are conducted by the Department of Agriculture and the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) using a scientific Package of Practices (PoP).
During the Sali/ Kharif season, Joha rice is harvested. Major Joha cultivars include Kola Joha, Keteki Joha, Bokul Joha, and Kunkuni Joha.
APART reports that the project distributes seeds, fertilizer, and need-based pesticides to beneficiaries through integrated crop management demonstrations and learning center demonstrations, but only seed is distributed as mini kits to farmers.
The budget for integrated crop management demonstrations is Rs.6000 (0.3ha), whereas the budget for learning centre demonstrations is Rs.31000, which includes a harvest day and crop display. In the market, seed costs between Rs.50 and Rs.60 per kg.
The report further stated that rice seeds of premium quality are distributed to farmers in non-chronic flood-affected areas. Because the seed of traditional rice varieties is not certified, the beneficiary farmers can sell it informally, resulting in horizontal seed dissemination.
About APART
APART would place a special emphasis on value addition in the production and post-harvest segments of selected agricultural commodity value chains; facilitate agribusiness investments through inclusive business models that provide opportunities to small farmers as well as stimulate the establishment of new small and medium agribusiness enterprises; and support the resilience of agriculture production systems in order to better manage the expanding production and the risks associated with the climate change in the targeted regions.
A cluster strategy would be employed to facilitate economies of scale, encourage vertical and horizontal links between local agricultural companies, facilitate innovation diffusion, capitalise on network externalities, and channel public funding for services and infrastructure.
With a cluster strategy, the project would be able to produce competitive and creative goods that match current market demands.