The Hindu : National : Ban on export of non-basmati rice to stay

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Ban on export of non-basmati rice to stay

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday decided to continue the ban on export of non-basmati rice in the face of inflation still being in double digits.

The decision to retain the ban on the vital food grain was taken here at a meeting of the Group of Ministers headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

“The ban on non-basmati rice will continue,” a senior official told journalists.

Confronted with price spiral, the government took several measures in March this year to improve the domestic availability of food grain.

Inflation was at 10.68 per cent for the week ended October 18.

Accepting a long-pending demand of the industry and agricultural scientists, the Centre has declared Pusa 1121 as a basmati variety by widening the definition of basmati.

‘Pusa 1121 is Basmati’

The gazette notification has been issued after the Agriculture Ministry took a decision to widen the definition of basmati to include Pusa 1121 variety, a senior government official said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry had earlier agreed that Pusa 1121 should be declared as basmati, paving the way for the change in the definition.

Pusa 1121 – developed in 2003 by the IARI – has all the qualities of basmati in terms of elongation, aroma, non-stickiness, softness and fluffy texture, industry experts say. Its 8 mm length expands to 18 mm after cooking.

However, as per the earlier definition under the Seed Act, any hybrid variety to be called as basmati should have genes from at least one traditional variety, which has now been suitably changed, the official said.

Earlier, Pusa 1121 did not qualify as it has no immediate linkage with traditional varieties. But scientists were demanding it to be declared as basmati because of its characteristics and popularity in the export market.

Six traditional basmati varieties – Taraori, Dehradun, Ranbir, 217, 370, 386 – were so far notified under the Seed Act.

Pusa 1121 becomes the third hybrid to be called as basmati, the earlier ones being Pusa Basmati and Haryana Basmati.

Meanwhile, exporters have hailed the decision, saying it would benefit both trade and farmers. When the government lifted export of Pusa 1121 as a non-basmati, there were large scale protests in Haryana – the largest producer of the variety. – PTI

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