Pusa 1121 fails to fetch fair prices

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, October 29

The Pusa 1121 variety, a major contributor to basmati exports as well as to the income of farmers, is fetching low price this time. It is being sold for Rs2,600 to Rs2,800 per quintal as compared with Rs3,300 to Rs3,700 in the corresponding period last year.

Farmers say that the Pusa 1121 variety after getting good prices last year, they cultivated the variety of 1121 on a large scale this time, but the variety made them unhappy.

Surinder Kumar, a farmer, said: “Last year, I had received a good price for the Pusa 1121 variety, prompting me to enhance the area under it. But this time, I have fetched a good price.”

Another farmer Ram Kisan echoed similar sentiments. “I had hoped that the 1121 variety would bring some respite from the financial loss I had suffered earlier. But the variety had a free fall this year, exacerbating my condition.”

Rice millers and exporters, who are bulk buyers of the 1121 variety, are hesitant to purchase it because of dip in demand and lower price offered in the international market. “Iran is a big buyer of India’s rice. But this time, Iran is not coming forward to purchase Indian basmati. Besides, low rate of the Indian rice in the international market could be the reason behind the dip in price,” said Vijay Setia, president, All-India Rice Exporters Association.