RARE RICE VARIETIES AND THEIR BENEFITS IN TAMILNADU

KIND EMPIRE January 20, 2022

RARE RICE VARIETIES AND THEIR

BENEFITS IN TAMILNADU

Tamilnadu is famous for its rich cultural heritage from time immemorial. Ancient forefathers of ours gave immense importance to arts, culture, science, food and health. In particular tamil farmers are traditionally rich in their agriculture knowledge, organic farming and cropping techniques. But from the colonial era ancient tamil traditional treasures had slowly lost only by one and the most important of them all is that we slowly forget our traditional food varities.In this article i made a small attempt in creating awareness of the traditional rice varities of tamilnadu and its rich nutritious and health significance.In totally there were more than 10000 varities of rice in ancient tamilnadu. But as of now only 63 of the traditional varities of rice are in use and only 19 of them are prominent among the farmers.We can look into the insights on some of the most important traditional rice varieties one by one.

1.KAATUYAANAM RICE

     The grain in the field grows more than 7 foot tall and even an elephant can disappear amidst the crop.

     It controls Diabetes, improves over all health of children, boosts immunity and protects against skin problems.

     It improves sexual vigour, acts as a cardiotonic.
     Best suited for marshy soils

2.KAVUNI RICE

Black kavuni rice
     Consumed by tamil kings
     This rice is in existence from Chola period.
     Anticancer, improves secretion of insulin
     Excretes wastes from our body acting as a natural detoxifying agent
     The South Indian Chettinad community, in the ancient days, widely used this Karuppu Kavuni Arisi. Even today, there is no royal family Chettinad wedding without a dessert with Kavuni Arisi
     Kavuni Rice is found to be the richest source of anthocyanin
     Rich in fibre
     kavuni rice also has 18 amino acids present in it.
Sivappu kavuni rice
     Good for bones
     Improves immunity

3.ARUVATHAAM KURUVAI RICE
     Increases sexual stamina
     Acts as Cardiotonic
     Stimulates growth
     Improves good cholesterol
     Short term crop cultivated in sixty days

4.KARUNKURUVAI RICE
     It has a KAYAKALPAM property which protects our body. siddhars use this rice variety to prepare medicines.
     It gives enormous strength to bones
     It boosts our body’s immune system
     It improves sexual vigour

5.MAAPILLAI SAMBA RICE

     It prevents Ulcer
     Acts as Neurotonic
     It improves sexual vigour
     It is very good for bridegroom who is going to get married
     It strengthens immune system
     Increase Haemoglobin content.
     Increase brain strength
     Reduces body heat
     Good for diabetics persons
     Fibrous in nature
     Fights against cancer

6.POONGAAR RICE

     It is very good for womens health and in particular for pregnant women.
     It strengthens the pelvis bone
     It will ease for normal delivery
     Good source for breast milk secretion

7. SIGAPPU KUDAVAAZHAI RICE
    Good for intestine
    Good for diabetes
    Good for constipation

8.KULLAKAAR RICE

     Good for treating Obesity
     Reduce BMI(Body Mass Index)
     Acts as a cardiotonic
     Gives enormous strength to body
     It possesses antioxidant properties, and has higher zinc and iron content than white rice.

9.GARUDAN SAMBA RICE

     Cleans the intestine
     Improves blood circulation and blood purification
     Garudan Samba, an important Traditional variety of Tamil Nadu was investigated for its phytochemical screening and GCMS study. The brown rice was extracted using ethanol. The results obtained after GCMS studies were confirmed by spectral analysis. The analysis of the ethanol extract showed the presence of n-Hexadecanoic acid, 9,12- Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, and Oleic acid, as major constituents of the total compounds (76.33%), which have the capacity to prevent many health related disorders. It also contained the medicinally important compounds like Caryophyllene, Ethyl Oleate, Squalene, γ-Tocopherol, Lup-20(29)-en-3-ol, acetate, (3β)-, and phyto sterols like Campesterol, Stigmasterol and β-Sitosterol. Hence, Garudan samba may be considered as one of the important Traditional variety with high level of medicinally important phytoconstituents.

10.KARUTHAKKAR RICE
     Used to treat piles
     Prevents constipation

11.KULIYADICHAAN RICE
      Good source of breast milk secretion
      Can grow in saline soils and withstand drought condition.

12.ILLUPAIPOO SAMBA RICE
     Prevents paralysis
     Treat rheumatism,arthritis
     Good for diabetes

13.VAALAAN SAMBA RICE
     It is very good for womens health and in particular for pregnant women.
     It strengthens the pelvis bone
     It will ease for normal delivery