Guwahati: In a major boost to Assam’s agricultural innovation and food security efforts, Assam Agricultural University (AAU) has officially received the Certificate of Registration from the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA) for its high-yielding, pigmented rice variety ‘Labanya’.
The certificate (Registration No. REG/2022/0044) was granted on July 7, 2025, confirming AAU’s exclusive rights to produce, sell, market, and distribute Labanya under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001. This move marks a significant national recognition of the university’s efforts to bring nutritionally rich and commercially viable rice to Indian markets.
“This registration not only protects the intellectual rights of the breeders but also ensures that farmers growing Labanya benefit from a legally backed, high-performing, and nutritionally superior crop,” an AAU official said.
Labanya (TTB-AAU-Dhan-41) is a new variety of Oryza sativa L. developed by scientists at AAU. It blends the rich nutritional profile of traditional black rice with the adaptability needed for commercial cultivation. With a yield of 4.5–5.0 tonnes per hectare, it significantly outperforms traditional black rice varieties, which yield only 1.5–2.0 tonnes per hectare.
It features a lower glycemic index for health-conscious consumers, aromatic grains and faster cooking times—ideal for daily diets—along with higher head rice recovery (~60%) and amylose content (~18%), ensuring excellent milling and eating quality. Labanya is also abundant in antioxidants, flavonoids, amino acids, and minerals.
The variety supports a growing market for value-added products such as gluten-free flour, bakery items, and traditional delicacies.
Recognising its commercial potential, AAU launched Labanya in the market even before formal registration, following a directive from the Honourable Vice-Chancellor. Exclusive marketing rights were granted to a local entrepreneur, and the variety has since been sold across over 18 states, with repeat buyers making up more than 30%—a testament to growing consumer trust.
Farmers in Assam, Punjab, and Daman & Diu have adopted the variety. In fact, the Government of Daman and Diu is actively promoting its cultivation, underlining its nationwide appeal.
The PPVFRA certificate grants exclusive rights to Assam Agricultural University for six years, renewable for an additional nine years, underscoring its long-term value for both the university and farming communities.
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