'Flooding won't affect basmati output in Punjab, Haryana'

Rice exporters do not see any major impact on production of basmati varieties of paddy in Punjab and Haryana on account of monsoon rains flooding large tracts of agricultural land sown with the crop in the two states.

"I do not think that there will be any major impact on the output of basmati varieties in these states (Punjab and Haryana) because of rains inundating the area," All-India Rice Exporters Association President Vijay Setia said today. 

Describing the recent incessant rains as beneficial, he said farmers could replant paddy in case the crop earlier sown was damaged due to flooding, as paddy crop -- especially basmati varieties -- can be grown till July-end.

"Overall, rains are good for paddy crop. But if the crop has (been) damaged in flooded water anywhere, farmers have enough time for replanting the basmati paddy crop till July end," he said, adding, "Since rains have almost stopped, water in the fields will soon recede." 

The matter assumes significance as Punjab and Haryana contribute 70 per cent of the total basmati rice production in the country.

Last year, the country's basmati rice production stood at 45 lakh MT. Both these states are known for growing the most popular basmati rice variety, PUSA 1121, which has major demand abroad in countries like Iran.

However, Setia asserted that the state governments should provide monetary help to those farmers who need to replant their paddy crop. "State government should initiate in helping out farmers whose crop has got damaged," he said.

Recent heavy rains have inundated large areas of Punjab's Patiala, Ludhiana, Sangrur and Fathegarh districts, besides the Kaithal, Kurukshetra and Ambala districts of Haryana.

State agriculture officials said if the water level recedes, there will not be much loss to the paddy crops in both states. They said that because of rains, transplantation of paddy crops -- which was going on at a slow pace -- has accelerated.

The area under cultivation with basmati varieties of paddy is expected to remain at last year's level in both Punjab and Haryana, which are key states for growing aromatic varieties of the crop. The PUSA 1121 variety is likely to cover the majority of the area under paddy cultivation.

The area covered by basmati varieties of paddy in Punjab jumped from 3.5 lakh hectares in 2008-09 to 5.5 lakh hectares in 2009-10. Similarly, in Haryana, the area under basmati went up from 5 lakh hectares in 2008-09 to 6 lakh hectares in the 2009-10 growing season.