THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The original Jaya rice cultivated on the banks of the Godavari will reach Kerala on April 15. It will be sold through SupplyCo's sales outlets. The state has demanded 3840 tonnes of Jaya rice per month.

Jaya rice was widely produced on the basis of the decision taken in the talks held by Food and Civil Supplies GR Anil with Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister Venkata Nageswara Rao on November 1 last year. Now, the first harvest is underway. Reports are claiming that good yield has been obtained due to good rains.

Different varieties of rice, including bondalu (a variety of Andhra rice), are now being sold in the state under the name 'Jaya'. Apart from this, Punjab Jaya and Karnataka Jaya varieties are also available in the market.

After a discussion with minister GR Anil on November 1, the Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies minister told media persons that the original Jaya was cultivated in the special climate of the Godavari region. After 1965, the production of Jaya rice declined in Andhra and gradually disappeared. Following the request from Kerala, seeds were sown from the seeds that were stored earlier. In December, the Andhra government asked farmers in the Godavari region to cultivate Jaya paddy.

Jaya leads in price

Duplicate Jaya rice in the market is now priced at Rs 53 per kg. Rs 60 is being charged in the retail market. 'Matta vadi' rice is priced at Rs 49 in the wholesale market. The price of 'Punjab Jaya' stands at Rs 39, while that of 'Karnataka Jaya' stands at Rs 40. Traders say that they are seeing signs of another price hike in the rice market.