Latest news with #non-Basmati
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Leveraging cultural connections, Centre, UP push for ‘Buddha rice' exports to Thailand , Vietnam
New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government, in consultation with the commerce ministry, plans to promote the export of Kalanamak rice—also known as 'Buddha rice'— to countries with majority or large Buddhist populations. The traditional aromatic variety, known for its nutritional richness and growing global demand, will be sold in Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore and Nepal, among others, said UP's minister of industrial development, export promotion, NRI, and investment promotion, Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi' in an interview. Special export quota The plan is to leverage the rice's historical association with these countries. While rice exports from India were restricted last year, the central government has allowed a special quota of up to 1,000 tonnes for Kalanamak rice. Read more: India to revamp rice cultivation technique to save water, cut labour costs, reduce methane emissions Over 500 tonnes of the rice have been exported to Singapore, Nepal and other countries since the April 2024-waiver, the minister said. The rice is sought after in countries with Buddhist populations. India's exports of Basmati and non-Basmati rice stood at $11.14 billion in FY23 but declined to $10.42 billion in FY24 due to export restrictions. However, following the lifting of the ban on all types of rice in October 2024, exports surged to $12.47 billion in FY25, commerce ministry data showed. UP is formulating a new export policy aimed at tripling shipments to over ₹5 trillion in the next five years by tapping into new markets and diversifying its product base. The draft policy for 2025–30 is currently under review and is expected to be approved soon. The new policy will focus on increasing exports from the current level of ₹1.7 trillion recorded in 2023–24 to three times that amount by 2030. To achieve this, the state government is planning a series of measures, including subsidies and other incentives. 'There is strong demand for this unique variety of rice, both in India and abroad. To meet this growing interest, we are working to increase its production and bring more area under cultivation by focusing on research and seed development. As part of this effort, a Kalanamak Rice Research Centre is being set up in Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)," said Nandi. Kalanamak rice is a traditional, non-basmati aromatic rice grown in eastern Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Siddharthnagar, where it has been designated as an ODOP (one district one product) item. Besides, it is also cultivated in parts of Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gonda, Balrampur, Bahraich, Sravasti and Kushinagar and has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, marking out its exclusivity. The ministry of commerce's APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) promotes several GI-tagged agricultural products for exports, including Basmati rice from Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi; Darjeeling tea from West Bengal; and Alphonso mango from Maharashtra. Known for its distinct black husk, fragrance and high iron content, Kalanamak rice was cultivated over 82,000 hectares across 11 districts in 2024. It is estimated that this will increase to 100,000 hectares this year, the minister said. 'Kalanamak rice is a nutritional powerhouse. It is rich in iron and antioxidants, has a low glycemic index, and is naturally gluten-free, making it a healthy dietary choice, especially for diabetics and those seeking a balanced, nutrient-rich alternative to polished white rice," said Dr Monashish Sahu, an endocrinologist based in New Delhi. Read more: India eyes bumper basmati crop as short-duration variety acreage set to rise 10% The global 'fragrant and long grain' rice market is projected to grow from $30 billion in 2023 to $45 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%, as per DataIntelo, a market research company. A Common Facility Centre (CFC) named Shivansh Siddharthnagar Agriculture Development Producer Company Ltd has been established under the ODOP initiative, with 80% government funding, to promote Kalanamak rice. It provides facilities for grading, packing, and other post-harvest processing to enhance export readiness.
Express Tribune
18-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Basmati exports plunge
Listen to article Pakistan's Basmati rice exports plummeted to a low of 43,895 tons in April 2025, marking the worst monthly performance in the current fiscal year (July 2024-April 2025), according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The sharp decline came despite a strong export surge earlier in the year, including a magical figure of 100,780 tons achieved in February 2025, a month with only 28 days. Hamid Malik, a commodities' expert, attributed April's slump primarily to the closure of Iran border during the month, a critical route for Pakistan's Basmati, though he noted that exports to Iran rebounded at a brisk pace in May. Overall, Basmati exports for the first 10 months of FY25 stood at 707,875 tons, a 15% jump from 612,126 tons during the same period of last year. However, non-Basmati exports dipped slightly to 4,390,333 tons (from 4,474,855 tons in FY24), with Malik warning of a potential 3-4% annual decline due to stiff competition from India, which is flooding African markets with cheaper rice. Total rice exports for the 10-month period remained nearly flat at 5.08 million tons, reflecting mixed trends. Further complicating trade, shipments faced delays in late April due to protests on the Indus Highway by the Sindh nationalist groups demanding better water distribution. The blockade disrupted truck movements for days, creating backlogs at Karachi Port. While the protests have subsided, exporters fear recurring disruptions, primarily due to Pak-India tensions that could dent Pakistan's reputation as a reliable supplier. Malik projected Basmati exports would finish the fiscal year stronger than last year, citing Iran's resumed imports and steady demand from the UAE and Saudi Arabia. However, Jahandad Khan, an agricultural economist, cautioned that Pakistan's non-Basmati sector risks losing long-term market share unless it addresses structural issues like high production costs and outdated farming techniques. He urged investment in climate-resilient crops to counter India's pricing advantage. Meanwhile, logistics analyst Ali Raza highlighted Pakistan's growing reliance on air freight for premium Basmati shipments to Europe and the US, saying that quality-conscious buyers are willing to pay more, but shipping delays via road or sea remain a hurdle. Pakistan ranks among the world's top rice exporters, renowned for its aromatic Basmati and affordable non-Basmati varieties. Key markets include Iran, China, East Africa and the Middle East. While India remains its fiercest competitor in non-Basmati trade, Pakistan's Basmati holds a niche due to its distinct quality. Still, Malik stressed the need for better trade diplomacy and infrastructure upgrades to sustain growth amid geopolitical and climate challenges. As the fiscal year closes, stakeholders remain watchful of monsoon forecasts and global price shifts, factors that could define Pakistan's rice trade fortunes in 2026.
Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
HC questions Punjab dept's statutory authority to ban hybrid paddy seeds
Days after Punjab government banned the sale of hybrid paddy seeds (non-Basmati rice varieties), citing high prices and low milling efficiency, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought to know which is the statutory authority behind the decision that could impact preparations for the upcoming Kharif 2025 sowing season. A bench of Justice Kuldeep Tiwari asked the Punjab Government to submit details justifying the legal basis on which the April 7 order banning hybrid seeds was issued and the statutory force behind it. The bench specifically asked the Director of Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (DAFW, Respondent No. 2) to file an affidavit explaining whether 'he/she has any authority/subject jurisdiction to pass such order'. In case of a lack of jurisdiction, the official must also explain why the order was passed, especially when the sowing season for Kharif 2025 has been advanced to June 1 — necessitating the preparation of nurseries by May 1. The bench further warned that in case of non-compliance of the directive, the Director will have to personally appear before the court on May 2, the next date of hearing date. Listing the main case in the urgent category, the court also made it clear that no adjournments would be entertained. The directives came on petitions filed by several traders who have contended that the Punjab agriculture department order to ban sale of hybrid paddy was in violation of the their fundamental right to carry trade contained in Article 19 (1)(g) of the Constitution. The petitioners contended that 23 varieties were notified for Punjab and they held valid licenses to sell them. However, the government's order not only deprived farmers of the freedom to choose the seeds they want to grow, but also prevented license holders from bringing these seeds to the market. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Gurminder Singh, with Advocates Harish Mehla and Yashshvi A. Kumar, appeared for the petitioners while deputy Advocate General Pardeep Bajaj accepted notice on behalf of the Punjab government and Director, DAFW. Legal experts warn that Punjab's blanket ban might violate national laws. According to them, the Seed Act, 1966, and the Seed Control Order, 1983, empower seed companies to sell centrally notified seeds — including hybrid varieties — without arbitrary state-level bans. Since paddy nurseries are sown 25 days to one month before transplantation, and this time sowing has been advanced to June 1 in Punjab, farmers would require seeds before the beginning of May. Orders for such hybrid seeds are usually placed in advance. The Director, DAFW had issued the order contending that hybrid seeds result in a higher percentage of broken rice during milling — reducing the milling outturn ratio (OTR) below the Food Corporation of India's (FCI) prescribed standard of 67%. The order also cited high prices of hybrid seeds. Citing these two factors — economic losses for farmers and poor milling returns for rice millers — the state imposed the ban. However, the move sparked opposition from both farmers and agricultural experts. In Punjab, farmers have widely adopted hybrid paddy seeds for their significant advantages. Private seed companies such as Savannah, VNR, Corteva, and Bayer supply popular varieties like Sava 127, Sava 134, Sava 7501, 27P22, and VNR 203. Farmers argue that hybrids offer shorter growing periods, higher yields, and even save water compared to traditional varieties developed by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). These hybrids mature faster and yield 5–6 quintals more per acre and farmers earn Rs 13,000 to Rs 14,000 more per acre, and such varities produce less stubble. During the 2024–25 Kharif marketing season, rice millers refused to accept hybrid paddy, citing lower milling efficiency. The hybrid varieties allegedly achieved only 60–63% milling outturn, falling short of FCI's 67% standard. Last year, the government struggled to persuade millers to accept hybrid paddy. To avoid a repeat, it has now banned the sale of hybrid seeds ahead of sowing. In 2019 too, a similar ban was imposed but later relaxed to allow centrally notified hybrids. However, the current ban does not specify if officially recommended hybrids are exempt. Experts disagree with the government's assessment. They argue that such varieties are notified only after several trials and meeting the standards of FCI and the notified varieties not only meet but several exceed the standards. They said that the milling inefficiency often stems from improper harvesting and outdated milling machinery, not from the hybrid seeds themselves. Also, hybrid rice is cultivated across the world for its high yield and water-saving advantages. 'Once a seed variety is notified by the Centre, it becomes legally approved for sale. State governments can regulate quality but cannot prohibit the sale of centrally approved seeds,' said Ajai Rana, chairman of the Federation of Seed Industry of India.
