Farmers collective in Kerala cultivates 'chocolate' rice

Haritha Karma Sena, farmers collective in Kerala, is cultivating a special variety of rice which has a chocolate flavour to it. The special variety of rice is grown using organic methods.

Thrissur:A group of villagers in Kerala learned the art of cultivation and took to four acres of land, to cultivate a special variety of rice using organic methods.

Poomangalam, a little panchayath in Thrissur, will now be known to the world for this special matta rice variety, which has been developed independently by a farmers’ collective here.

According to reports, the farmers collective cultivated 'Poomangalam Matta', a rice variety, which gives away taste and aroma of chocolate and contains several medicinal properties as well.

A team of 15 farmers were trained at the Mannuthy Agricultural University under Haritha Karma Sena. They began the cultivation process with support from Krishi Bhavan and the Panchayath.

Read:Rejuvenation therapy for elephants at Guruvayur camp begins in Kerala

The bran of the rice is retained while this rice variety is sent to the market. Besides selling rice as such, rice flour and rice flakes are also being manufactured from Poomangalam Matta, eyeing the surge in demand.

Haritha Karma Sena is gearing up to distribute their Poomangalam matta and other rice-based products to different parts of the State once the registration process is complete.

This farmers collective has been involved in cultivating the wasteland in the panchayat for four years now.