Ponni Rice

Ponni rice was developed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in 1986 and is widely cultivated in Tamil Nadu. Since the Kaveri is also called ‘Ponni’ in Tamil literature, the rice could have been named after the river. The rice is mostly cultivated along the banks of the Kaveri in the cities of Ariyalur, Trichy, and Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The rice is exported to some parts of Europe, North, East, and West Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, but a large amount is distributed to Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Ponni, when cooked, is soft, separate, and expands only lengthwise, resulting in long, thin grains. The rice also has the highest fiber and low glycemic index content and is easily digestible, making it good for people with diabetes. Other common variants of Ponni rice are Avudaiyar Ponni, Karnataka Ponni, Malligai Ponni, etc.