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'''Ambemohar''' is a fragrant [[rice]] variant grown in the foothills of the [[Western ghats]] region of the state of [[Maharashtra]] in [[India]].

== History and etymology ==
The word Ambemohar means mango blossom in [[Marathi language]] which is spoken in the state of Maharashtra where the cultivar originates from. The rice has strong aroma reminiscent of mango blossoms.<ref name="Gnanamanickam2009">{{cite book|author=Samuel S. Gnanamanickam|title=Biological Control of Rice Diseases|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JUqye6NHzZAC&pg=PR5|date=14 July 2009|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-90-481-2465-7|page=7}}</ref> The rice has been cultivated in the region for a long time. A century ago about 54,000 tons of the variety was produced in the Mulshi region of the [[Pune district]].<ref>Chowdhury, A.R., 2013. Subalternity, State-Formation and Movements against Hydropower Projects in India, 1920-2004 (Doctoral dissertation).[http://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/53671]</ref>

== Production and cultivation ==
The variety is grown in the foothills of the [[Western ghats]] region of the state of [[Maharashtra]] in [[India]].<ref>Singh, A.K., 2014. Probable Agricultural Biodiversity Heritage Sites in India: XX. The Konkan Region. Asian Agri-History, 18(3)|[https://www.asianagrihistory.org/pdf/volume18/ak-singhs-paper-18-3.pdf]</ref> It is a low yielding rice (1.9 ton/ha). The grains are short (5.5 mm) and wide (2.2 mm) compared to the well known basmati rice. Both varieties have similar degree of fragrance.<ref>{{cite book|title=Aromatic Rices|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fJi0FxyM7pQC&pg=PA107|year=2000|publisher=Int. Rice Res. Inst.|isbn=978-81-204-1420-4|pages=8–}}</ref> The variety is therefore included in the class of [[Aromatic rice]] such as [[Basmati]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Aromatic Rices|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fJi0FxyM7pQC&pg=PA107|year=2000|publisher=Int. Rice Res. Inst.|isbn=978-81-204-1420-4|pages=8–}}</ref> The short cooked grains have a tendency to break easily and stick together.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}

==Related varieties==
Ambemohar is low-yielding compared to other varieties of rice, primarily because it is susceptible to diseases. The hybrid called Indrayani with ambemohar parentage was released in 1987.<ref>{{cite book|title=Aromatic Rices|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fJi0FxyM7pQC&pg=PA107|year=2000|publisher=Int. Rice Res. Inst.|isbn=978-81-204-1420-4|pages=8–}}</ref> It was developed by Rice Research Centre near Lonavala.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130906134350/http://mpkv.mah.nic.in/ Mahatma Phule Agricultural University's]</ref> Indrayani has also been modified to form new varieties of rice such as Phule Maval and Phule Samrudhi.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shailesh D. KUMBHAR |last2=Pawan L. KULWAL |title=Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Landraces and Improved Rice Varieties from India |journal=Rice Science |year=2015 |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=99–107 |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C39&q=ambemohar+kumbhar+sarawate+rice+science+indrayani+2015&btnG= |accessdate=15 April 2019|doi=10.1016/j.rsci.2015.05.013 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Uses==
[[File:Mulshi tehsil in Pune district.png|right|thumb|Location of Mulshi Taluka in Pune district]]
Ambemohar rice is used to prepare a thick soup of rice and milk called ‘Bhatachi
Pej’ locally, mainly for children, elderly people and patients. (Rice Kanji).
The rice is also used in religious and wedding ceremonies. In [[Mulshi]] region of [[Pune district]], it is used for making ‘Vapholya’ - A traditional food item prepared during [[Makar Sankranti]] festival. The rice has been used for making soft [[Idli]] and crispy [[dosa]]. It is also used for making puffed rice called Kurmure in the Marathi language. The bran from the rice is used for oil extraction or for Mushroom cultivation.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Government of India |title=Government of India Geographical Indications |journal=Government of India Geographical Indications |date=2016 |volume=88 |issue=July 28 |url=http://www.ipindia.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/IPOJournal/1_322_1/Journal_88.pdf}}</ref>

==Geographical indication==
[[Mulshi Taluka]] sub-division of [[Pune district]] in the eastern foothills of the Sahyadri range has been granted the [[List of Geographical Indications in India|Geographical Indication]] for Ambemohar.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Geographical Indications Registry |title=Ambemohar Rice |url=http://ipindiaservices.gov.in/GirPublic/Application/Details/478 |website=Geographical Indications Registry |publisher=Government of India |accessdate=15 April 2019}}</ref>

== Lookalikes ==
It is now rare to find farmers who grow Ambemohar regularly. Since the production cost is high, the retail cost in turn has to be high. So, retailers in Maharashtra, pass off lookalikes as original Ambemohar to gain higher profit margins. This has further discouraged the production of Ambemohar, since the farmers can earn more profit themselves by growing lookalikes. Jeera Sambhar rice from Andhra Pradesh and Jawaful from Madhya Pradesh are the most popular lookalikes sold by retailers.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bhosale|first1=Jayashree|title=Consumers pay premium price for the look alike of the regional rice varieties|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/consumers-pay-premium-price-for-the-look-alike-of-the-regional-rice-varieties/articleshow/11698088.cms|accessdate=October 8, 2018|publisher=Economic Times|date=Jan 31, 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Basmati rice]]
* [[Jasmine rice]]
* [[List of rice varieties]]
* ''[[Oryza sativa]]''
* [[Wehani rice]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Varieties of rice}}

*[[Category:Rice varieties]]
*[[Category:Agriculture in Maharashtra]]
*[[Category:Rice production in India]]
*[[Category:Geographical indications in Maharashtra]]

Ambemohar - Revision history

>AnomieBOT at 01:22, 15 January 2021