Exporters are upbeat over the prospects of basmati exports from India, especially PUSA 1121, this financial year.
They are expecting that this fiscal year, the total exports of PUSA 1121 is likely to touch 1.3 million tonnes (MT) against last year’s total export of 900,000 tonnes.
Speaking to Business Standard, Kohinoor Foods Ltd Joint Managing Director Gurnam Arora said, “The lowering of minimum export price (MEP) and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) reports that confirm that there was no presence of heavy metal in PUSA 1121, will give a fillip to exports and we are hopeful that this year the total export of PUSA 1121 will touch 1.3 MT compared with 900,000 tonne last year.”
It is worth noting that this year, there has been record increase in area under basmati cultivation in Punjab and Haryana.
The total area under basmati cultivation in Punjab touched 550,000 hectares against 350,000 hectares last year, while basmati cultivation in Haryana touched 600,000 hectares this year against 500,000 hectares last year.
According to the agriculturists, majority of the farmers in these states went for high-yielding varieties like PUSA 1121 which had been accorded basmati status by the Centre last year.
According to state government officials, there has been a phenomenal increase in PUSA 1121 cultivation this kharif season as the area in both the states almost doubled compared with previous year.
The total area under PUSA 1121 cultivation in Punjab and Haryana is 350,000 hectares each.
Echoing similar sentiments, an exporter from Amritsar said, “We are hopeful that the export of PUSA 1121 will increase significantly, following positive steps taken by the central and state governments.”
Last month, the Centre had lowered the minimum export price (MEP) for basmati rice further to make it more competitive in the global market.
Exporters can now sell basmati valued at $900 per tonne or more instead of the earlier floor of $1,100 per tonne.
Also, the Punjab government has constituted Basmati Development Board to facilitate basmati growers and exporters. The board would create a healthy atmosphere for the export of basmati.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also announced that the board would initiate the promotional campaign of basmati world over.
In order to boost exports, most of the Indian exporters have adopted the international standards in their production and processing units, including ISO and HACCP certifications.
Also, the exporters have in-house laboratories to assure the quality of the product exported by them according to Apeda.
