The Punjab and Haryana governments have advised paddy farmers not to undertake sowing of a high-yielding variety ‘PUSA Basmati 1509’ before July 15 after exporters complained of breakage due to early plantation. An awareness campaign has been launched in both Punjab and Haryana -- the two major basmati rice producing States. The farmers have been asked to “shun” the practice of sowing 1509 variety before July 15. “We are asking farmers under the campaign to transplant Basmati 1509 variety after July 15 otherwise there will be high incidence of broken content and moisture content in the crop will be higher,” Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture), Dhanpat Singh said here on Monday.
If the crop is planted pre-maturely, then there will be high breakage while milling and will have no acceptability in export market, according to basmati rice exporters. “What farmers do is they plant this crop before July and as a result of which the grain remains immature and weak. When we mill or process it, the grain breaks up,” Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association director Ashok Sethi said. - PTI
