Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), or common buckwheat, is a flowering plant in the knotweed family Polygonaceae cultivated for its grain-like seeds and as a cover crop. The name "buckwheat" is used for several other species, such as Fagopyrum tataricum, a domesticated food plant raised in Asia.

Despite its name, buckwheat is not closely related to wheat. It is not a cereal, nor is it even a member of the grass family. Buckwheat is related to sorrel, knotweed, and rhubarb, and is known as a pseudo cereal because its seeds' culinary use is the same as cereals, owing to their high starch content

Buckwheat is a herbaceous annual flowering plant growing to about 60 cm, with red stems and pink and white flowers resembling those of knotweeds. The leaves are arrow-shaped and the fruits are achenes about 5-7 mm with 3 prominent sharp angles.

BOTANICAL NAME : Fagopyrum esculentum

ORIGIN : Yunnan region of China.

MAJOR PRODUCING STATES/DISTRICTS IN INDIA :

• Jammu and Kashmir (Udhampur, Ladakh, Kargil and Drass sectors, Gurez valley)
• Uttarakhand (Uttar kashi, Chamoli, Pauri, Almora and Pithoragarh)
• Himachal Pradesh (Bharmaur, Pangi, Kulu, Shimla,Kinnaur, outer Saraj, Chopal, Dodra kaur, Neshang, Pooh division, Lahaul valley, Pin valley)
• Chattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh
• West Bengal (regions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, New Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar)
• Assam region, Meghalaya, Manipur
• Arunachal Pradesh (Tawang, Bomdilla and Dirang)
• Sikkim (Lachan and Lachoong)

Peak Harvesting Season:- Feb to May

Export of 2022-23: - 1096 MT

Major Destination: - Nepal, Korea, USA, Taiwan, Kuwait