The farmers in Punjab seem to be reaping the benefits of growing Sharbati variety of paddy as it is setting their cash registers ringing. With the private buyers purchasing Sharbati at higher prices than the MSP(minimum support price) of Rs 650 per quintal, the farmers overwhelmed.
Notably, some varieties of rice like Sharbati, essentially grown in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Dasua, Garhshankar, Batala , Tarn Taran is selling well in the wholesale grain markets in Punjab. Some other varieties attracting the buyers are Pusa 44, 47 etc. The Khanna market alone is receiving around 7,000-10,000 quintals of Sharbati everyday as per traders.
Interestingly, the surge in demand for Sharbati is because it can be mixed with basmati. “The long grained variety of Sharbati which resembles basmati is in huge demand as it can easily be mixed with basmati to the extent of 40%. There is a huge demand for it by the rice shellers and traders. The farmers are mixing about 35-40% of this variant in basmati in order to add weight to Basmati,” revealed Raj Sood, a Khanna based trader. And why not? The farmers are getting an upward of Rs 750 per quintal, while the official MSP is Rs 650 per quintal. The prices at some places are as high as Rs 1,200 per quintal.
Harcharan Singh, a farmer told FE that since the Sharbati crop matures in a short period of time, it is preferred by the farmers as they can prepare the field early for the potato crop. The only difference is that Sharbati is non-scented. Compared to that Basmati rice occupies a prime position on account of its extra long superfine slender grains but also pleasant and exquisite aroma.
“The exporters (rice shellers) have even paid a price as high as Rs 1,000 per quintal. So it proves out be a win-win situation for the farmers as well,” he said.
Another farmer contended that the prices for Sharbati in the open market are ruling so high that even government agencies, primarily Markfed, which had contracted farmers to produce Sharbati last year are not able to procure it.