APEDA on December 15, 2020 organized a Workshop on Opportunities in Export of Organic Basmati Rice, Value Addition and Product Diversification’ in New Delhi. to discuss and deliberate on the promotion of Basmati Rice, Organic Basmati rice, product diversification and value addition in Basmati Rice.
About Basmati Rice
- Basmati rice continues to be one of the major agro-products of export from the country.
- The quantity of export has gone up by about 17.5 % during the period April-October 2020 compared to same period last year.
- The export prices of Basmati rice and accordingly of the paddy for farmers are influenced by overall global food price trends and increase or decrease in supply.
- In the last one decade, the volume of Basmati Rice Exports has more than doubled. During 2019-20, India exported 4.45 million tonne (MT) of Basmati Rice with value of US $ 4331 Million.
- During 2009-10, the export of Basmati Rice was of the order of 2.17 Million MT.
- The major destinations for India’s basmati rice exports include Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, European Union and the United States.
- Overall exports of Basmati rice from the country continue to do well.
34 approved varieties of Basmati Rice
- APEDA proposes to undertake a campaign in major markets to promote the export of Basmati rice in Indian Brands in retail pack, aiming at higher unit value realisation and it was decided to prepare a Strategy for product diversification and value addition in Basmati Rice.
- However, continuous development of new varieties released by the Research Institutions like Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, Delhi, Basmati Export Development Foundation (BEDF) and the Agriculture Universities in the key Basmati growing states have helped farmers in terms of higher productivity and greater resistance to lodging with stronger stems.
- At present, there are 34 approved varieties of Basmati Rice being cultivated in the country. Huge export potential exists for value-added products from rice.
