The Story of Rajamudi Organics

Why We Chose Our Roots, Even When the World Chose Convenience

As we speak often about our products, our organic farming practices, and the health benefits of traditional food, there comes a point where the why matters just as much as the what. The story of Rajamudi Organics is not just about rice or organic labels - it is about where it all began, why it began, and where we are headed as a brand committed to real food, living soil, empowered farmers, and mindful consumers.

Rajamudi is the name of a traditional heirloom rice variety native to Karnataka, specifically the regions of Mysore, Mandya, and Hassan. Over time, customers and partners have often asked us: Why Rajamudi? When India has thousands of indigenous rice varieties, what made this one worthy of representing an entire brand?

The answer lies at the very root of our journey.

How a Health Crisis Sparked a Food Movement

The story of Rajamudi Organics began not in a boardroom, but in the early 20s of our Founder and CEO, Mr. Nagendra Kumar H, while he was pursuing engineering in Computer Science. What started as recurring digestive issues soon became serious enough for doctors to advise him to reduce his intake of polished white rice and increase dietary fibre.

For a South Indian and a proud Kannadiga, this advice felt almost impossible to accept. Rice was not optional food. It was breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was culture. Habit. Home. Having consumed rice twice a day for nearly two decades, the idea that his staple grain could be the root cause of his health issues raised a much larger question: What exactly were we eating, and how had our everyday food changed so drastically?

Instead of accepting this as a personal setback, Nagendra, being the son of a farmer, chose to investigate deeper. His search was not for a replacement, but for a return: a grain that resembled rice as it once was, nutritionally dense, naturally fibrous, and nourishing beyond just empty carbohydrates.

Discovering Rajamudi Rice: A Grain Fit for Kings

He started the search from his land Karnataka. He was astonished to find a different native grain at every town, every city, every nook and corner each with a distinct identity and purpose. The first grain that stood out was Rajamudi Rice. This grain has so much cultural and heritage historically dating back to the Wadiyar dynasty of Mysore. Did you know? Rajamudi rice was once reserved for royalty. In fact, historical records and oral traditions suggest that this rice was even used as a form of tax payment during the reign of the Mysore kings. The name itself reflects its stature: Raja meaning King and Mudi meaning Crown → the King’s Crown.

This unpolished native rice has a naturally striking appearance, grown with a mix of red and brown hues. Often mistaken as a blended rice by human intervention, Rajamudi’s colour is entirely natural, a result of its antioxidant rich bran, the region its grown and traditional cultivation methods.

Nutrition That Nourishes, Not Just Fills

What truly pondered Nagendra was not just Rajamudi rice’s history, but its nutritional integrity. Being an unpolished grain, it retains its bran layer, making it rich in dietary fibre and naturally gut-friendly. Unlike refined white rice, Rajamudi rice has a low glycemic index, meaning it releases glucose slowly into the bloodstream, making it suitable for people managing blood sugar levels or transitioning away from polished rice. Beyond fibre and glycemic control, Rajamudi Rice is rich in antioxidants, phytonutrients and notably, Zinc - a micronutrient  essential for immunity, metabolism, and even mental health. Zinc deficiency is increasingly linked to fatigue, poor immunity, and conditions such as anxiety and depression.

As Rajamudi rice slowly became a staple in his own home, Nagendra noticed a steady improvement in his digestion and overall health. This wasn’t a quick fix but a real fix by diet from within working right. That experience ignited something deeper: a responsibility to make such grains accessible beyond just one household.

(You can add that youtube video - 5 health benefits of Rajamudi Rice 

From Personal Discovery to Purpose-Driven Brand

Around this time, Nagendra was also pursuing his specialization in exports from IIM Bangalore, gaining hands-on exposure to global markets, certifications, and supply chains. What began as a personal health journey soon aligned with a professional vision, to take India’s forgotten grains to the world, without compromising their authenticity.

Rajamudi rice is traditionally grown in regions along the Kaveri river basin, across Mysore, Mandya, and parts of Hassan. Locally, farmers and families have continued cultivating and consuming it for generations, fully aware of its nutritional and cultural value. However, outside these regions, and especially globally, this grain was virtually unknown.

That gap strengthened the vision.

In 2022, Rajamudi Organics Private Limited (ROPL) was born. The brand name was not a marketing decision, it was a declaration of roots. Rajamudi was the grain that started it all, and it naturally became the identity that represented our mission.

Organic by Practice, Not by Trend

By then Rajamudi Rice was already ringing bells here and there trending for its health benefits but people are not sure of the availability. So, we decided to make it both available, accessible as well as affordable but also with a note that everyone who consumes it should get the total benefits of this precious grain.

Conventional farming was never an option.

We chose lands that had lost fertility due to years of chemical-intensive farming and patiently transitioned them into certified organic farmlands. This process took time, discipline, and sacrifice. This means we never used any chemicals or pesticides or fertilizers that make the grain alter its native form. Yields are lower but the grain remains 100% true to its native form, just as our great great ancestors consumed it.

Soon, we became the top producers, exporters and sellers of this grain that is worth celebrating for its cultural heritage as well as the grain itself. Loved by many across the country and Indians around the world have started requesting Mr. Nagendra sent Rajamudi Rice to their homes away from home. How can he say no, so we surpassed all the standards obtaining certifications for different continents. Now we are proud distributors of Rajamudi Rice across The USA, Canada, Ireland, the Middle East, Australia and more adding soon to this list.

Another question we are often faced with is the familiar claim that “Organic is just a trend- it’s all the same”. We don’t counter this with opinions or marketing language. We counter it with proof. At Rajamudi Organics, our commitment to organic farming is backed by globally recognised certifications such as NPOP, USDA NOP, NPPO, EU Organic, and more. A genuinely certified organic brand does not merely print the word ‘organic’ on its packaging - it earns the right to say it.

Obtaining and maintaining these certifications is far from easy. It requires a dedicated team working consistently behind the scenes - coordinating audits from multiple government and international bodies, clearing inspections, reapplying before certifications expire, and ensuring strict compliance at every stage. Every batch undergoes 250+ residue and quality tests, followed by multiple rounds of checks before it is approved for domestic sale or export. It is a rigorous, time-intensive process, and there are no shortcuts.

So when we say zero chemicals, we mean it. When we say zero pesticides, we mean it. When we say organic, natural, pure, and nutrient-rich, these are not claims - we stand by them with evidence, process, and accountability.

Respecting the Soil and the Hands That Grow Our Food

Beyond grains, we deeply respect the soil they grow in and the hands that grow them. At Rajamudi Organics, we believe that when these two are cared for with honesty and intention, the outcome is naturally better food which is nutrient-dense, authentic, and grown with a significantly lower carbon footprint. Good food does not begin at processing or packaging; it begins at the farm, long before the harvest.

To ensure this, we work through two core farming models. The first is our Go-To-Farm model, where we engage directly with farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). This includes plot-level onboarding, continuous agronomy support, and transparent procurement practices that ensure fairness and traceability at every stage. Farmers are not treated as suppliers, but as long-term partners in the food system we are trying to rebuild.

The second is our Land-to-Farm model, where underutilised or barren land is patiently converted into certified organic, export-ready farmland. These lands are restored over time through natural inputs and regenerative practices, with an assured buy-back model that gives farmers confidence and stability. This approach allows us to rebuild soil health while creating sustainable livelihoods, without compromising on quality or ethics.

Beyond Rajamudi: Reviving India’s Lost Rice Heritage

Rajamudi Rice was only the beginning.

Do you recall when we mentioned earlier that our Founder encountered countless native grains at every step of his journey? Once you truly see that diversity, it becomes impossible to stop at just one grain. While Rajamudi rice holds deep roots in Karnataka, India’s grain heritage extends far beyond a single region. Kerala has Navara , West Bengal and Odisha have Gobindbhog, Maharashtra has Ambe Mohar and Indrayani , Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have traditional Sona Masoori ,  along with many more grains that have either been forgotten over time or altered through hybridisation.

Each of these rice varieties carries its own cultural identity, regional significance, and nutritional purpose - grains that were once grown for specific soils, climates, and health needs. Losing them was never accidental; it happened slowly in the name of uniformity, higher yields, and convenience. Recognising this loss made it clear that Rajamudi Organics could never be about just one rice, it had to be about bringing back what we were losing, one grain at a time.

As our CEO often points out, “India has lost nearly 5 lakh indigenous rice varieties in the name of hybridization, monocropping, and yield-driven agriculture”. This loss is not just a statistic, it is a reality that has quietly reshaped our food systems. Bringing these grains back, therefore, is not about nostalgia. It is about necessity.

Rajamudi Organics stands committed to reviving these forgotten yet revivable heirloom grains and returning them to the people who once grew and consumed them. Today, our portfolio includes 10+ traditional rice varieties , with each grain carrying its own purpose.

Our goal is clear: to revive at least 50+ heirloom rice varieties by 2028, one grain at a time.

A Complete Shift Towards Real Food

Along with reviving traditional rice varieties, our larger intent is to encourage a complete shift towards real, everyday food. We believe in consuming minimally processed, organic dals and pulses, replacing rice with millets a few days a week, choosing good fats from cold-pressed oils and desi cow ghee, and slowly moving away from white sugar towards jaggery. We also place equal importance on aromatic, toxin-free spices and traditional sweets made without refined sugar, foods that were once part of regular diets, not occasional indulgences.

To make these choices easier and more accessible, we brought all of this together under one roof. Our growing catalogue reflects this philosophy, allowing people to shop consciously from anywhere, at any time, through our website and on Amazon India.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

Nagendra Kumar H, Founder & CEO of Rajamudi Organics Private Limited strives hard to bring back the forgotten grains back to everyone across the globe and make them available, accessible and affordable to all. It is not just rice varieties, it is everything organic including superfoods & herbs like Moringa, Ashwagandha, and more. Under the leadership of Nagendra Kumar H, Rajamudi Organics has grown into a purpose-driven enterprise focused on purity, traceability, and ecological responsibility. From heirloom grains to organic superfoods and herbs like moringa and ashwagandha, our work remains rooted in one belief:

“Food as Pure as Nature Intended - A Right for All”