Basmati exports at all- time high

Up 45% at 11.2 lakh tonne in FY05

India's basmati exports in FY05 touched an all-time high of 11.2 lakh tonne, up 45 per cent, informed Akhilesh Prasad Singh, minister of state for food, to the Lok Sabha.

In value terms, the exports rose to Rs 2,741.94 crore compared with the previous year's figure of Rs 1,990.92 crore.

The non-basmati rice exports rose to 36.4 lakh tonne from 26.01 lakh tonne. In value terms, it was Rs 3,899.73 crore from Rs 2,142.16 crore.

However, wheat exports declined to 19.956 lakh tonne from 40.93 lakh tonne, Singh said in reply to a question in the lower house. The decline in case of wheat was to Rs 1,448.03 crore from Rs 2,391.15 crore.

Export of rice has emerged as a significant foreign exchange earner for the country, fetching $1.48 billion in FY05 against $918 million in the previous financial year.

Earning of foreign exchange from basmati has increased to $612 million from $442 million, while that from non-basmati rice rose to $870 million from $476 million. The earnings from wheat exports have declined to $323 million from $522 million.

PERFECT RECIPE

India's basmati exports in FY05 touched an all-time high of 11.2 lakh tonne up 45 per cent informed agriculture minister

Export of rice has emerged as a significant foreign exchange earner for the country, fetching $1.48 billion in FY05 against $918 million in the previous financial year.

The exports rose to Rs 2,741.94 crore compared with the previous year's figure of Rs 1,990.92 crore

Earning of foreign exchange from basmati has increased to $612 million from $442 million