Basmati Rice is a
long aromatic rice grown only in India & Pakistan world over. It
has extra long slender grain which elongates more than twice of its
original size upon cooking. Basmati Rice is unique among other aromatic
long grain rice varieties due to its delicious taste, distinct flavor
and superior aroma which literally makes it King of Rice. Agro- climatic
conditions of the specific geographical area and method of harvesting,
processing and aging attribute these characteristic features to Basmati
rice.
Basmati Rice Production
India produces more than 70% of the world bamsati rice production and
the rest is produced by Pakistan. India's Basmati rice production for
the year 2008-09 was around 3 million tons but for crop season 2009-2010
it was estimated at 4.5 million tonnes,an increase of 50% from previous
year's production. Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Western Uttar
Pradesh and J&K are the states where Basmati rice is grown in India.
The estimated Pakistani basmati rice production for the
year 2009-10 was 2.5 million tonnes. Punjab & Sindh are the major
basmati producing areas in the country.
Basmati Rice Varieties
Basmati 386 , Pusa Basmati-1, Pusa Basmati 1121, Basmati 217 , Ranbir
Basmati , Karnal Local/ Taraori Basmati, Basmati 370, Type-3 (Dehradooni
Basmati), Punjab Basmati-1, Haryana Basmati- 1, Kasturi and Mahi Sugandha
are the main notified varieties of Basmati rice in India.
Super Kernel Basmati Rice, PK 385 and D 98 (also known
as Sindhi Basmati) are the major varities of basmati rice produced and
exported by Pakistan.
Basmati Rice Exports
Saudi Arabia is the biggest importer of Indian Basmati Rice followed
by U.A.E. and Kuwait. U.S.A. and U.K are the other major buyers of Basmati
rice from India. It is also exported to other West Asian and European
nations. Iran is considered as biggest buyer of Pusa 1121, a rice variety
which commands almost 50% of basmati exports from India. Pakistan is
the only competitor of India as these two countries are the only producers
of Basmati rice in world market
Major Basmati rice export markets for Pakistan are U.A.E,
Saudi Arabia, UK, Yemen, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, and USA.
Super Kernel Basmati Rice is the most expensive exported variety of
Pakistan. India is the only competitor for this commodity.....more
