Guwahati, Nov 6: The aroma of black sticky rice and roasted sesame filled the air at the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025, as visitors thronged the Meghalaya stall — drawn by the live cooking of celebrated chef Nambie J. Marak, who turned indigenous rice varieties from her home state into culinary showstoppers.

The Government of Meghalaya, through its Directorate of Agriculture, participated in the two-day conference held in New Delhi from October 30–31, showcasing the state’s unique indigenous rice biodiversity — including Pnah Iong, Mynri (Golden Rice of Ri-Bhoi), Mangsang, Minil, and Khaw Biriun. These varieties are cultivated under eco-friendly, rain-fed systems that reflect Meghalaya’s focus on organic and sustainable agriculture.

The Meghalaya pavilion featured a diverse display of rice varieties and rice-based products, complemented by live cooking sessions with Chef Nambie J. Marak. Over two days, she transformed traditional grains into modern delicacies — preparing a black rice salad using Pnah Iong (Black Sticky Rice) on the first day, and fried sticky rice with black sesame made from Mangsang Rice on the second.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our incredible rice varieties,” said Chef Nambie. “On the first day, I prepared a black rice salad to celebrate the deep, nutty flavors of our traditional black rice Pnah Iong. On the second, I cooked fried sticky rice with black sesame, highlighting the unique texture and taste of Mangsang Rice.”She added that interacting with visitors from across India and abroad was “an amazing experience,” and that the response to her dishes was “heartwarming — everyone loved the flavors.”

Chef Nambie also expressed her gratitude to the Agriculture Department for inviting her to be part of an event that celebrates “our farmers, our grains, and our culinary heritage.”
Organized by the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF) with support from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, BIRC 2025 brought together exporters, importers, policymakers, and agri-tech innovators to explore India’s leadership as the world’s largest rice exporter.

Meghalaya’s participation aligns with its broader initiatives under the State Rice Mission and the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Programme (IBDLP) — both aimed at enhancing productivity, promoting value addition, expanding market access for smallholder farmers, and conserving traditional rice varieties.

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