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Pusa Basmati 1121 safe to eat: ICAR
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Tuesday, 20 October, 2009, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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 Delhi based Indian Agricultural Research Institute under Indian Council of Agricultural Research has claimed that the statement in the Iranian press that the Pusa Basmati 1121 rice grains are genetically modified and are contaminated with heavy metal levels causing ill health are erroneous, incorrect and misleading.
The ICAR further stated that based on the analysis of the market samples of Pusa Basmati 1121 rice were done on highest precision levels of parts per billion (ppb) scale at ICAR. The rice is absolutely safe for consumption and they do not contain heavy metals like arsenic or contain heavy metals like lead, cadmium and nickel at so low levels which cannot cause any harm or ill-effect on human health even on daily consumption.
ICAR is the developer of the variety Pusa Basmati 1121. It has carried out detailed analyses of heavy metals in grain samples of Pusa Basmati 1121 obtained from the market using graphite furnace version of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer at highest precision level of parts per billion (ppb).
ICAR reinstated that there is no genetically modified (transgenic) Basmati rice released or commercialised in India. Therefore, the question of Pusa Basmati 1121 being genetically modified does not arise.
There is no reason for rice industry and farmers to panic about the said Iranian press report on heavy metal contamination in Pusa Basmati 1121. The farmers of India who were able to produce the quantity required despite the drought situation should deservingly get a sustainable and right price commanded by the variety that is the most priced commercial rice on the market. Iran has subsequently cleared Pusa 1121 rice as safe for human consumption (F&B News October 15).
Pusa Basmati 1121 was released for commercial cultivation in 2003. This variety presently occupies nearly 0.9 million ha area (60% of the total area under Basmati rice cultivation) and contributes approximately 60 % (0.9 million tonnes) of the total Basmati rice export (1.5 million tonnes) from India and it is understood that a big chunk of this goes to Middle East countries. This variety contributes 60% (Rs 5,000 crore) of the total forex earning through Basmati rice export from India and has brought prosperity to Basmati rice farmers in the Indo-Gangetic plains.
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