Production and Export Potential of Basmati Rice in India

摘要

Rice is the staple food for large section of population in India and basmati rice is consumed as luxurious food in Indian diet. This paper attempted to examine growth in area, production and export behaviour of basmati rice in India and to evaluate economic viability of basmati cultivation in the prominent basmati growing states. The relevant information to draw meaningful inferences is collated from different published sources. The findings reveal that acreage under basmati rice in the states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh shared about 94.53 percent of total basmati rice area in India. Haryana state alone contributed about 40 percent in area and production of basmati rice in the country. The per hectare total cost of cultivation of basmati rice in Haryana increased from Rs.54416 to Rs. 113807 over last decade. The escalation in cost of cultivation is observed over the period due to increase in price of purchased inputs, hiring charges of farm machines, transplanting cost, rental value of land, etc. However, the income generated from cultivation of basmati rice was Rs.60318 in 2008-09 touched to Rs.145338 in 2018-19 highlighting about five times increase. The incremental increase in cost of cultivation of basmati rice was offset by higher yield and remunerative market price. The B-C ratio also reveals that basmati rice cultivation is a profitable crop enterprise. The export scenario of basmati rice from India exhibited positive sign both in term of quality and value realisation. The increase in export of basmati rice from India to various destinations in the world increased at the rate of 9.69 and 12.46 percent in term of quantity and value term, respectively, during last decade. Focused research efforts for evolution of short duration cultivars and good agronomic practices are required for productivity enhancement, reduction in water requirement and sustainable cultivation of basmati rice in northern India. Exporters should be awakened to international standards and new emerging destinations for export of basmati rice.