Basmati prices down, Pusa 1121 unavailable

Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, October 31

With a drop in prices of basmati variety Pusa 1121, farmers have started stocking their produce. They are hopeful that the prices of the paddy variety will increase in the near future.

The variety is fetching a price between Rs 2,500 and Rs 2,800 in the Karnal grain market, between Rs 2,400 and Rs 2,700 in the Nigdhu grain market, between Rs 2,600 and Rs 2,850 in the Taraori grain market and between Rs 2,500 and Rs 2,850 in the Gharaunda grain market.

The prices are almost the same in almost all grain markets of the district. During last year, the variety fetched prices between Rs 3,200 and Rs 3,700 in various grain markets of the district.

“I have harvested my produce on around five acres, but will not bring it to the grain market. I will wait for a week or two as rates will increase and I will get better prices,” said Raman of Kamalpur Roran village in the Indri block.

Deep Chand, another farmer, said they were hopeful that prices would reach the same level as last year, but the produce was fetching low prices this year, due to which he decided to stock it.

“My produce of Pusa 1121 was procured at Rs 2,500 on Wednesday so I kept the remaining produce. I will sell it when the prices will increase,” said Kuldeep, yet another farmer.

The area under paddy cultivation had increased in the district this year. It was cultivated on 1.72 lakh hectares compared to 1.70 lakh hectares last year. Of the total produce, around 40 per cent was basmati.

Exporters of basmati cited several reasons for the steep fall in prices. They pointed out the non-availability of a level playing field.

“Exporters are facing a fund crunch with their payments stuck in Iran for five months. Over 30 per cent of basmati export is affected due to the crisis, making exporters reluctant to purchase basmati,” said Vijay Setia, president of the All-India Rice Exporters Association.

“There are different market fee rates in states, disparity in rate of interest for rice mills and expenses like commission to agents and labour charges. The markets in Syria are unstable due to the civil war and local reasons, due to which demand is low,” he said.

He said exporters who had worked a lot on educating farmers about the judicious use of pesticides for the last four years were feeling tired.

He said they were demanding regulatory measures to make Indian rice free of pesticides. He said companies should be made responsible for excessive residue in crop and the government should evaluate pesticides used.