The ministry of commerce is soon likely to expand the definition of basmati rice to include new varieties such as Pusa-1121, Mangala Rai, director general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research said today. | |
| "We have discussed the matter with the commerce ministry, which has in-principle agreed to expand the definition," Rai said today on the sidelines of Krishi Vigyan Mela. |
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| The commerce ministry's approval for the expanded definition is crucial as many countries buying basmati rice from India ask for government certification to prove the variety is a basmati. |
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| Basmati, an aromatic long-grain rice variety"" grown exclusively in the Gangetic plains in India and Pakistan "" commands a premium over other rice varieties. |
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| The agriculture ministry is also planning to expand the definition of evolved basmati, which will allow a larger number of rice varieties to be identified under the basmati brand. |
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| The new definition of basmati being prepared by the agriculture ministry will recognise varieties with at least one traditional basmati grandparent as "evolved basmati". |
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| Currently, any rice variety with at least one traditional basmati parent is considered an evolved basmati variety. |
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| "A new definition of basmati is needed so that all the varieties such as Pusa-1121 can be accommodated," Rai said. |
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| Within three years of its development, the Pusa-1121 variety today accounts for more than 50 per cent of basmati production, said Vijay Setia, president, All India Rice Exporters Association. |
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| Basmati rice exporters and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute have been seeking amendment to the present definition, which can aid development of new basmati varieties, promote trade and pay farmers well. |
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| "By using Pusa-1121 variety, for the first time ever, farmers today are earning 50,000 rupees per acre," Setia said. |
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| "Though Pusa-1121 is currently not recognised as a basmati variety, it fetches around $100 a tonne higher than the traditional basmati rice variety, especially in Iran and Saudi Arabia," he said. |
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| He said it is in the interest of farmers especially in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh that the government notifies the variety as a basmati. |
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| India's basmati exports are currently worth Rs 3,000 crore, as against the Rs 400 crore earlier. |
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| "This has been possible only because of high yielding varieties," Rai said. |
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