Red sticky rice, from Thailand’s northeastern province of Loei, will be listed as a GI (geographic indication) product, by the Office of Bio-economic Development, with the Commerce Ministry because of its unique characteristics.

The move came after a team of researchers from the office was sent to Ban Sricharoen village in Tambon Wangsai, Phu Luang district of Loei, a community is located next to the Phu Luang wildlife sanctuary. The team conducted a study of the community’s local wisdom, the biological diversity of food and herbs, the preservation of old customs, the red sticky rice and Tui cotton, according to Mrs. Chularat Niratsayakul, the office’s director.

Red sticky rice is a native rice strain of Loei, known for its unique fragrance and low sugar content making it suitable for people with diabetes, said Mr. Sawaeng Tapa, head of the Ban Sricharoen community.

He disclosed that the red sticky rice disappeared from the community for a while until, just over a year ago, he met with some farmers who cultivate native rice strains and who bought some red sticky rice saplings for cultivation in his community.

The yield of the rice was only five tonnes for the first year, but it increased to 15 tonnes this year, he said, adding that he had encouraged the residents to plant the rice for their own consumption.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Sirinya Thongbab, head of the Khun Loei textile enterprise, said their textile-making group will also propose the Commerce Ministry list the hand-woven textile and its water pattern as GI products.