During 2019-20, India exported 4.45 million tons (MT) of Basmati Rice with a value of US $ 4331 Million. While quite surprisingly in the span of 2009-10, the export of Basmati Rice was of the order of 2.17 Million MT which toppled the coffers of India.

Indian government considering this catch of the export of Basmati Rice, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority or APEDA has organized a Workshop on the occasion of 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. In doing so APEDA is in a continuous effort to level up the stature of Basmati Rice and also strikes a balance in the supply chain right up to the retail level in the domestic market as well as at a global level.

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 the 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.

Reportedly it is seen the paddy for farmers are influenced by overall global food price trends which limits the increase and decrease in supply. Looking at the brighter side in the last decade, the volume of Basmati Rice Exports has more than doubled. The major destinations for India’s Basmati rice exports include Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, the European countries and the United States.

The government was engaged in the 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 restored the farmers in terms of higher productivity and greater resistance. Having said that, we see 34 approved varieties of Basmati Rice is cultivated in the country. A huge export potential exists for value-added products from rice.

Although the government has taken steps towards the importance of judicious use of Pesticide and Phytosanitary Issues in the Export of Basmati Rice, the Export Scenario of Basmati Rice hence presentations by the Basmati Export Development Foundation(BEDF). Quite similarly IARI made the presentation on the Potential of Value Addition in Basmati Rice and an expert from the Association of Indian Organic Industry made the presentation on the Export Potential of Organic Basmati Rice were discussed in detail.