# Traditional Colocasia From Himachal's Binga Village Granted National Registration Under Unique Variety Status

> The unique fiber-free colocasia grown in Binga village of Mandi district has been officially registered under the PPVFRA as 'Swad Kachalu', protecting its seed rights and boosting local farming.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Himachal Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-09-12 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/himachal-pradesh/himachal-ke-binga-ganva-ke-parnparika-kachalu-ko-mila-rashtriya-darja-bina-anumati-bija-istemala-karane-para-lagega-shulka-31370 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Colocasia, Farming, PPVFRA, Agriculture Ministry

A traditional variety of colocasia, locally known as kachalu or arbi, which has been cultivated for generations in Binga village under the Dharampur sub-division of Mandi district, has achieved significant national recognition. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, has officially registered this unique crop under the name 'Swad Kachalu'. This major milestone was achieved through the dedicated efforts of the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) Dharampur.

## The Journey Towards National Registration
Bhupendra Singh, the secretary of FPO Dharampur, explained that this colocasia variety is a highly ancient and traditional crop of the region. It commands immense demand not only across Himachal Pradesh but also in various neighboring states. Recognizing its commercial potential and unique traits, the registration process was initiated approximately one and a half years ago. This initiative was coordinated through the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sundernagar. With the national registration now successfully completed under the name 'Swad Kachalu', the FPO aims to expand its cultivation to other parts of the Dharampur sub-division in the near future. This expansion is expected to boost overall production, improve marketing, increase sales, and directly benefit the local farming community.

## What Makes the Binga Colocasia Unique?
Colocasia, commonly referred to as large arbi or kachalu, is widely cultivated and consumed in Mandi and its adjoining districts. It holds a special place in local culinary traditions, particularly during weddings and festive feasts where a popular dish called 'dum' is prepared using this vegetable. Vidya Sagar Thakur, a local farmer from Binga village, highlighted the key physical characteristic that sets their produce apart from standard varieties. Unlike the typical kachalu available in the market, which contains dense fibers, the variety grown in Binga village is completely fiber-free. This superior texture and taste have driven high demand for Binga's kachalu in local markets, a reputation that has now been validated with this national-level recognition.

## Legal Protection and Agricultural Rights
Dr. Pankaj Sood, a scientist at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sundernagar, provided historical and legal context to this achievement. He noted that the central government's Ministry of Agriculture established the PPVFRA in the year 2001 specifically to protect, conserve, and promote such unique traditional crop varieties and farmers' rights. Following this official registration, the seeds of the 'Swad Kachalu' variety from Binga village cannot be used or propagated by external parties without authorization. Anyone wishing to cultivate this specific variety must now obtain prior permission from the FPO Dharampur or pay the designated royalty for using its seeds. This framework aligns with the central government's ongoing endeavors to protect indigenous agricultural products and secure economic benefits for the original farming communities.

## What this means for you
Following this registration, the farmers of Binga village will receive fair pricing and legal protection for their traditional crop. This will provide a significant boost to local agriculture-based businesses.

- **Across India:** Farmers in other states will be inspired to legally protect their unique local crop varieties under national frameworks. This will strengthen the preservation of biodiversity and traditional seeds across the country.
- **In Himachal Pradesh:** Farmers in the Dharampur sub-division of Mandi district will have the opportunity to earn higher profits from cultivating 'Swad Kachalu'. External growers can no longer use these seeds without paying royalties or obtaining permission, directly increasing local agricultural income.

## Why this happened
This landmark registration was made possible due to the distinct physical characteristics of the Binga village colocasia and consistent local efforts to preserve it. Its market demand and quality made it highly eligible for this status.

- **Unique Quality:** The colocasia grown in Binga village is completely fiber-free, which distinguishes it from other standard varieties and makes it tastier. This unique texture ensures that its demand remains exceptionally high in local markets.
- **Active Local Efforts:** The Dharampur FPO and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Sundernagar jointly initiated the registration process about one and a half years ago to protect this crop. This organized effort was crucial in achieving national-level recognition.
- **Government Policy:** The central government established the PPVFRA in 2001 specifically to conserve unique traditional crop varieties. Under this legal framework, the 'Swad Kachalu' has now been granted official protection and seed rights.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. बिंगा गांव के कचालू को किस नाम से राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर पंजीकृत किया गया है?
इस कचालू को भारत सरकार के कृषि मंत्रालय के वैधानिक निकाय PPVFRA द्वारा 'स्वाद कचालू' के रूप में पंजीकृत किया गया है।

### 2. बिंगा गांव का कचालू आम कचालू से किस प्रकार भिन्न है?
आमतौर पर मिलने वाले कचालू में रेशा होता है, लेकिन बिंगा गांव में उगाए जाने वाले कचालू में रेशा नहीं होता है, जिससे यह अधिक स्वादिष्ट होता है।

### 3. राष्ट्रीय पंजीकरण के बाद 'स्वाद कचालू' के बीजों के उपयोग को लेकर क्या नियम हैं?
अब बिना अनुमति के इस कचालू के बीजों का इस्तेमाल नहीं किया जा सकेगा। व्यावसायिक उत्पादन के लिए FPO धर्मपुर से अनुमति लेनी होगी या रॉयल्टी चुकानी होगी।

### 4. इस पंजीकरण को पूरा करने में किन संस्थानों ने सहयोग किया है?
इस पंजीकरण को पूरा करने में FPO धर्मपुर के प्रयासों और कृषि विज्ञान केंद्र सुंदरनगर के माध्यम से शुरू की गई प्रक्रिया का मुख्य योगदान रहा है।

## Inspiration & Lessons
The national recognition of the Binga village colocasia offers valuable lessons for other farmer groups and rural communities seeking to protect their traditional heritage.

- **Valuing Traditional Heritage:** It is crucial to recognize the worth of local, generations-old crops. The farmers of Binga maintained and nurtured the uniqueness of their traditional crop instead of abandoning it.
- **Power of Collective Organization:** Through local organizations like FPOs, farmers can collectively achieve significant administrative and legal milestones. This success highlights teamwork over isolated individual efforts.
- **Leveraging Scientific Partnerships:** Connecting traditional agricultural practices with modern scientific institutions like Krishi Vigyan Kendras can help secure official legal protection and commercial advantages on a national level.

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