New Basmati variety to boost India's rice exports prospects
This variety presently occupies more than 1.5 million hectare of Basmati rice grown area estimated at around 2.6 mh.
An official with Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) said India’s Basmati rice exports got a boost following the introduction of Pusa 1121 variety in the global market. Pusa 1121 received a huge demand from mostly middle-east countries such as Iran and Saudi Araba.
Exporters have been upbeat about the development of new Basmati variety. “The new variety is expected to help the farmers in not only saving on water because of shorter duration of crop, it would increase the yield,” Vijay Setia, former president, All-India Rice Exporters Association and leading exporter of Basmati rice said.
Last six years have been watershed years as far as India's basmati rice export goes. From a modest Rs 2792 crore of aromatic rice exports during 2006-7, the exports have increased by many times and expected to cross Rs 16,000 crore mark during current fiscal.
India exports Basmati rice to middle-east countries mostly Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE, European Union and the US.
Saudi Arabia and Iran account for more than 60% of India's total Basmati rice exports.
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