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Pusa 1121 gets notified as Basmati rice
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Wednesday, 05 November, 2008, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The Union Agriculture Ministry has finally notified evolved Basmati rice Pusa 1121 as Basmati while bringing about a new definition of what constitutes Basmati rice in May 2008. The move is response to the clamour from the growers of the evolved Basmati rice variety in Punjab, Haryana and other states in North India. However, the notification issued on October 29, 2008, clearly spelt out a restrictive clause by substituting the words "the whole of India" under the Seeds Act, 1966, relating to Pusa Basmati 1121 as applicable to "Delhi, Punjab and Haryana." Basmati rice is grown in the Indo-Gangetic plains encompassing, besides the three states, Uttaranchal, western Uttatr Pradesh and Jammu& Kashmir, which have been left out in the notification. The rejection of these three states growing Pusa 1121, on technical parameters, needs to be spelt out as farmers and traders growing this premium rice would feel irked by the ministry's notification.
Now that Pusa 1121 has been notified as Basmati rice, the exporters would have to fork out the export duty of $1,200 a tonne (Rs 48,000) and an additional customs duty of Rs 8,000 a tonne introduced on May 10 on Basmati rice. Vijay Sethia, president of the All-India Rice Exporters Association, hailed the notification. He said the government had complied with the long-standing demand of the exporters of this variety of rice, which is fetching high prices in the overseas markets.
However, the notification will allow it to be bought and sold as Basmati in India. India's official definition of Basmati has not been simultaneously widened to create a space for Pusa 1121. Until that happens, India will not be able to protect it from being appropriated by other countries under the Geographical Indications Act. Chief rival and co-grower, Pakistan has been stiffly resisting any dilution of the Basmati family by India because it erodes its premium and exclusive image in the world market.
For exporters and farmers, Pusa 1121's recognition would allow them to profit from the Basmati family name, while selling a rice that is cheap and easier to grow and process. Traditional Basmati has all but vanished from the fields of Punjab and Haryana because the plant is delicate, expensive to grow, and low-yielding. In Haryana about 70% of the area under Basmati is Pusa 1121 variety, while in Punjab it is 55-60%.
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