Geographical Indication to Magic Rice: It’s Significance for the Assamese Community

Jayanta Boruah

Assistant Professor of Law

NERIM Law College

Guwahati, Assam, India

Abstract

Magic Rice that is locally known as ‘Boka Saul’ is a paddy variety grown mostly in parts
of lower Assam, has been granted Geographical Indication Tag recently. This case might bring a
significant impact upon the local Assamese farmers who were harvesting this variety of paddy
for themselves initially. This crop is harvested in a traditional manner and it has a long history of
origin in the Assamese Culture. This particular paddy variety is unique in many aspects and
therefore assumes importance for discussion.

This paddy variety besides being just a category of rice is also famous for its utilities.
This rice variety does not need any fuel for making it consumable as daily food. Achieving GI
Tag might make it more popular and is even expected for making it more commercialized. Such
an initiative might not only bring prosperity to the local farmers harvesting this crop but might
also prove as a recognition of the unique cultural prestige associated with this crop.

This commentary will therefore help us in understanding the significance of this variety
of paddy amongst the Assamese community as well as the extent of prosperity that such granting
of GI Tag can bring to the state of Assam at large.

Keywords:

Geographical Indication, Boka Saul, Assamese Tradition and Assamese Culture

Introduction
 ‘Boka Saul’ is an indigenous paddy variety known by various names like- ‘Magic Rice,
Assamese Soft Rice, Komal Saul, etc. and it is scientifically termed as ‘Oryza sativa’. This
variety is grown in parts of lower Assam mostly in the districts of Baksa, Barpeta, Goalpara,
Darang, Dhubri, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, Nalbari and so on.1 It is sworn in the third or fourth week
in the month of June and harvested in December and therefore this rice is also known as ‘Xali’ in
local language. This variety is cultivated in Assam since a very long time and the process of
cultivation is purely traditional. Due to its several significances it has been provided GI tag in
2019 on an application for GI made in 2016 by the Lotus Progressive Center (LPC) that is
located in Nalbari and has been functioning for protection of local rice varieties in and around
the Nalbari District. Further, the application was supported by the Center for Environment
E3ducation (CEE) while Assam Science Technology and Environment Council provided with
necessary facilities. Thus, Boka Saul became the second natural product to be recognized by GI
from Assam after Muga Silk. 2 `

Significance of Boka Saul

It is believed that this variety was first cultivated in the 17th Century during the Ahom
Reign in this area by the name Boak Saul for using it as food for the Ahom Army during
emergency while fighting against the Mughal Army.3 This variety has a huge amount of benefits.
First, this variety of rice does not require to be cooked for consumption. All that is needed is just
to soak it in water for about an hour for allowing it to swell and then it gets ready for eating.
Thus, it requires no fuel since cooking is not needed. Further, a study from the Biotechnology
Department of Gauhati University revealed that this particular variety of rice contains 10.73%
fiber content and 6.8% protein as well as it has the capacity for cooling the human body. Many
elderly people in the villages of Assam suggest for feeding the young ones with this rice because
this rice is very healthy and is free from any ill effects. In parts of Upper Assam this rice is used
to make a unique type of traditional sweet (pitha) known as ‘Malpoa Pith’ that is very soft and it
tastes like cake. This rice is eaten in different ways in different parts of Assam, for instance in
Upper Assam it is consumed with water and salt while in lower Assam it is mostly consumed

1
Gaurav Das, Assam soft rice gets GI tag, Telegraph (Apr 10, 2019, 12:23 PM)
https://m.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/assam-soft-rice-gets-gi-tag/clid/1457163.
2
Ibid.
3
SS. Rana & Co. Magic Rice belongs to Assam, mondaq (Apr 10, 2019, 12:55 PM)
www.mondaq.com/india/x/730560/Trademark/Magic+Rice+Belongs+To+Assam.
with milk and banana. Due to its easy consumable capacity it can work as a great relief measure
during emergencies. We all are aware that Assam is a state that faces frequent natural calamities
at huge rates in the form of floods, earthquakes, storms, etc. as such this rice can be utilized since
it can be easily consumed even without any fuel and also this rice can be eaten with naturally
available stuffs such as milk, bananas, salt, water, etc. Even during normal times also it has been
working as a breakfast meal for the local people since centuries. Traditionally, it is beloved that
Boka Saul is served during the eleventh hour of the arrival of guests or when a light homemade
dish is needed to serve guests visiting at unusual moments or even when farmers go for farming
to distant places.4

Benefits of Getting GI Tag for Magic Rice

It is expected that this granting of GI tag by the Intellectual Property India body to Magic
Rice will make the Assamese Community popular for an another product which is traditionally
cultivated in the state of Assam. This variety was not popularly known outside Assam and for
this reason its significances were also left ignored. While this variety of rice product has
immense potential to remove food insecurity in the entire country at a very low cost compared to
any other measures. Thus, popularizing this variety will not only benefit the state of Assam but
might also ensure food security throughout the country in extreme conditions. At the same time
this GI tag is expected to bring prosperity to the economy of the state. Since, initially the local
farmers cultivated this crop only for their own personal uses due to absence of proper market
system and also due to absence of government subsidies. But the state government can work for
enhancing the market not only within Assam but also outside Assam that will eventually benefit
the farmers cultivating the Magic Rice.

Due to its low production this Boka Saul rates up to Rs. 50-60 per kg in the villages
where this rice variety is cultivated while it rates up to Rs 100-150 kg in cities and towns. This
variety of rice reaches its high demand during the local festive seasons mostly during the festival
of Bhogali Bihu. But due to its high rates most of the people are not purchasing it normally. But

4
Nehal Jain, A lot canh happen over Assam’s Magic Rice- Boka Chaul, GPlus (Apr 10, 2019, 01:10 PM)
https://www.guwahatiplus.com/article-detail/a-lot-can-happen-over-assam-s-magic-rice-boka-chaul.
if it is made commercialize in a proper manner then not only the markets will be flooded by this
variety but also it will glorify the unique but prestigious Assamese tradition at large.5

Hemanta Baishya, founder of Lotus Progressive Center the applicant for GI tag upheld
that his objective behind making this application was to ensure wellbeing of those farmers who
were locally cultivating this variety of rice with the belief that this GI tag will make this rice
variety commercially viable. This clearly indicates that the application was made with the sole
intention of commercializing Boka Saul. This GI tag is going to provide security to the registered
and authorized agents who are in the business of producing and dealing with the production of
this particular variety of rice that will further ensures security from piracy. It is further significant
from the point of view that such a GI tag is going to give the right over this rice variety to its
actual owner. Thus, now GI tag has ensured Boka Saul as the property of the local Assamese
Community.6

Conclusion

From the above we can conclude that no doubt the granting GI tag to Boka Saul has a
great significance for the Assamese Community but at the same time we must acknowledge the
fact that it is now our responsibility to popularize this product since this particular variety can be
used for several beneficial purposes besides only serving the traditional needs of the local
Assamese people. The government must provide with all necessary subsidies to the local farmers
who are engaged in the process of cultivating this variety so that its production can be increased
and it can be made available not only in the local markets of Assam but also outside Assam to
the greatest possible extent. Such an initiative will definitely help economically not only the
farmers but also the entire state of Assam.

5
Supra n 3.
6
Supra n 1.