My parents consume the traditional unpolished rice varieties according to the availability. The varieties are not readily accessible in near by stores. They have to travel minimum 40kms+ to next town and purchase it. During every visit, we can learn new names of rice varieties. This time it is thavala kannan(literal translation-Frog eyed).

This is one of the popular variety of Palakkadan Matta(bold red rice with a unique taste).

The traditional rice varieties which were cultivated abundantly earlier, is being used by a very small percentage of paddy farmers now. It has low production, comparatively, but the advantage is that it is cheaper than the high yield variety seeds and moreover it is more nutritious, drought resistant, and requires only low input costs. But the profitability is also low compared with the HYV seeds because of the low
production levels.

A few farmers cultivate the traditional varieties but they don’t get any support from Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Hope these farmers get more support from people and Govt.

Curious to know more names of rice varieties?

1. Kalluruthi	2. Kalladiyaran*	3. Kodagu veliyan	4. Kochu vithu
5. Kanni Chennellu	6. Padu kuliyan	7. Kodiyan	8. Valichoori*
9. Kara vala	10. Pala chemban	11. Kothandan	12. Valia kaima
13. Kariyam kari	14. Palliyattu	15. Kozhi vala	16. Vattan
17. Karum kaima	18. Palthondi	19. Kumbalan	20. Veliyan*
21. Karuthan*	22. Pal veliyan	23. Kuttadan	24. Vellari*
25. Katta modan	26. Parambu vattan	27. Kutti veliyan	28. Velumbala
29. Aryan	30. Cheru vellari	31. Manjuvari	32. Villi
33. Anakomban	34. Cheriya Aryan*	35. Mannadan	36. Poothadi kaima
37. Aryankali	38. Chettu veliyan*	39. Mannu veliyan*	40. Ponnariyan*
41. Athiyan	42. Chitteni*	43. Marathondi*	44. Poothala
45. Chembavu	46. Chunna modan	47. Mullan munda	48. Puncha
49. Bhoothakali	50. Chomala*	51. Mullan puncha	52. Thavala kannan
53. Chempathy*	54. Gandhaka sala*	55. Mundakan*	56. Thaichoonal
57. Chendadi*	58. Jeeraka sala*	59. Njavara*	60. Thekken cheera*
61. Chennellu*	62. Kaima*	63. Onavattan*	64. Thondi*
65. Cheriya kaima	66. Kakka thondi	67. Adukkan*	68. Thonnuran thondi*
69. Kochu ooty	70. Peru vazha	71. Ponnari mala	72. Uruni kaima*
73. Wayanadan thondi*

Source- http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ac546e/ac546e0b.htm

Edited to add-

Cooked thavala kannan rice on my pirannal sadhya(birthday feast)