AAU has declared that its high-yielding purple rice variety Labanya has secured (PPVFRA Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority) Registration, marking a significant milestone in agricultural innovation and food security. It has undergone several years of research and field trials by the university’s rice breeding scientists.
What is Labanya?
Labanya is an output of the traditional richness of black rice with modern agronomic traits that make it appropriate for large-scale cultivation and contemporary consumer preferences.
It emerged as a unique plant variety due to its registration under PPVFRA, which secures its intellectual property rights, protecting the interests of both the university and the farmers who cultivate it.
It holds the beneficial qualities of traditional black rice, such as the antioxidant richness and nutritional profile, while including improvements that make it more appropriate for modern farming systems and regular dietary use. Not only this, it has a tremendous yield potential since it can produce between 4.5 and 5.0 tonnes per hectare, a significant improvement over the 1.5 to 2.0 tonnes per hectare yield of conventional black rice varieties. This jump in productivity can critically boost farm income and improve food availability.
Labanya: A Healthy option for people with Diabetes
It provides a lower glycaemic index, due to which it is a healthier option for people with diabetes and those who want to manage their blood sugar levels. Its aromatic grains and ease of cooking make it a perfect fit for daily meals. Labanya cooks faster and retains a non-sticky grain texture, making it suitable for a broader audience due to its easy cooking and aroma. It is becoming a perfect option for daily meals.
In the face of changing food preferences, rising health consciousness, and the need for climate-resilient farming practices, Labanya represents a forward-looking step for Indian agriculture. Due to the qualities such as high yield, superior nutritional quality, and widespread adaptability, Labanya has become a farsighted step in the field of Indian Agriculture. Its recognition by PPVFRA has proven that agricultural universities can transform research and create a real-world impact. Interestingly, the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) has proven that the combination of tradition and science can generate while retaining the sustainability.