SNE NETWORK.CHANDIGARH.
Despite all the efforts of the Punjab government, farmers are not showing interest in Basmati cultivation. This time the Punjab government has set a target of cultivating Basmati in only 7 lakh hectares of area. Despite this, Basmati has been planted in only 3.60 lakh hectares of area so far. Farmers are citing not getting the right price as the main reason for not showing interest in Basmati cultivation.
Due to this, the concern of Basmati exporters has also increased. They say that this will also affect exports. They will not be able to meet the demand for Basmati. Basmati exporters of the state have already suffered losses due to the Iran-Israel war.
The time from mid-June to the first week of July is considered suitable for Basmati cultivation in Punjab. During this time the weather is also favorable for the crop, because rain also helps in the development of the crop. However, farmers continue to cultivate Basmati throughout the month of July. Basmati requires less water than other varieties of paddy. For this reason, the Punjab government also encourages farmers to cultivate Basmati but it is not giving good results.
Basmati cultivation in Punjab has come down from 7.63 lakh hectare area in the year 2015-16 to 6.80 lakh hectare area in the year 2024-25. Last year, the government was also successful in increasing the area of Basmati as compared to the year 2023. Basmati was cultivated in 5.96 lakh hectare area in the year 2023-24. The prices of different varieties of Basmati including 1121 have also fallen from 4500 per quintal in the year 2022-23 to 3500 to 3600 per quintal in the year 2023-24. Apart from this, there is fear among the exporters at present due to the trade deal not being finalized with America yet.
Bal Krishna Bali, head of Punjab Basmati Millers and Export Association, said that the government has set a target of 7 lakh hectares but most of the farmers are turning away from Basmati cultivation. Farmers were not able to get the right price for the crop last year and were forced to sell the crop at 10 percent less price. This will also affect the export of Basmati. Due to this, they will not be able to meet the demand.
Basmati is exported from Punjab mainly to Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Apart from this, Punjab’s Basmati is also exported to America, Singapore and Malaysia. As against 52 lakh tonnes in the year 2023, the export has reached 60 lakh tonnes in the year 2024, but Punjab is not able to take advantage of it. Basmati exports had stopped at Gujarat Port between Iran-Israel. Now it has started again. 70 percent of Basmati exports have also been completed. Association’s Finance Secretary, Naresh Goyal said that according to the current situation, Basmati cultivation will be 25 per cent less this time.