In a major development, the Manipur Government has applied to the Union Commerce Ministry for Geographical Indication or GI-tag for Chakhoa. To market the Chakhao black rice globally, the state government has just started e-auction of this ancient produce of the land.

The GI is a mark/sign/symbol used on a particular product to indicate its geographical origin and inherent natural qualities that differs it from other similar product. It can bring about a major revolution on the agrarian scenario of Manipur. Chakhao is poised to become one of the commodities in the export basket of this state.