Manipur set to export rare white sticky rice globally
State Department of Agriculture signs MoU with Japan to export 20 MT of rice, valued at approximately Rs 4 crore
Imphal, Nov 1 (NNN): Manipur is set to introduce its indigenous ‘Chakhao Angouba’ (white sticky rice) to the international market following the successful export of ‘Chakhao Amuba’ (black sticky rice), marking another step in promoting the state’s traditional agricultural products abroad.
The Department of Agriculture has signed an MoU with Japan to export 20 metric tonnes of the white sticky rice, valued at approximately Rs 4 crore. The MoU was signed during the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025, organised by the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF) in collaboration with APEDA, held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi on October 30-31.
According to Peter Salam, Director of the Agriculture Department, Manipur already enjoys a strong export market for its black sticky rice, and efforts are now underway to establish the white variety in global markets.
“The ‘Chakhao Angouba’ variety will soon find its place internationally due to its unique aroma, stickiness, and colour,” Salam said.
He added that the event brought together over 1,000 foreign buyers from more than 80 countries, along with 2,000 farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) from across India, making it one of the largest global platforms for rice trade and exchange of knowledge.
‘Chakhao’ is an indigenous aromatic sticky rice traditionally used in rituals and social ceremonies in Manipur. It is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fibre, giving it higher nutritional value compared to most other rice varieties.
The Black Chakhao rice received a Geographical Indication tag in 2020, recognising its distinct origin and quality. Around 2,000 hectares under black aromatic rice cultivation in Manipur have been fully certified under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) through the MOVCDNER Phase-I, while another 1,000 hectares are under first-year certification in Phase-II.
Salam pointed out that, unlike the black variety, the white Chakhao remains relatively unknown outside Manipur, despite being cultivated for generations. He said countries such as Japan are showing interest in experimenting with the white sticky rice for dishes like sushi due to its distinct characteristics.
Despite its potential, the white Chakhao variety is produced in smaller quantities, largely due to low-yielding varieties and a lack of motivation among farmers. The Agriculture Department is encouraging farmers to adopt modern farming technologies to enhance production and income.
Officials, however, said there is currently no exact data on the annual production volume of Chakhao Angouba.
