New Delhi: Indian basmati rice will soon be cooked in China and Mexico. Presently, basmati exports reach more than 130 countries, and the government hopes to take advantage of the Chinese and Mexican markets in a couple of years.
"In a couple of years, we hope to carve a niche for basmati rice in China and Mexico as well," A.K. Gupta, advisor, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India's official agri-product export promotion agency. He added that China held huge prospects for Indian basmati. India had exported 54 tonnes of basmati to China in 2006-07 on a trial basis.
"India's export of basmati is increasing 20 to 30 per cent every year," said Gupta. "In terms of quality, flavour and taste, our product continues to get preference over that of the rival exporting country," he said, referring to neighbouring Pakistan. "Efforts are on to expand the market worldwide," Gupta said in a statement.
India has an approximate share of 53 per cent in the basmati rice international market and promotional events such as buyer-seller meets, sending trade representatives overseas are on, to expand the existing consumer base. Major imports of India's basmati rice are into markets of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, the UK, the US, Yemen, Canada, Iran, Germany, Oman, South Africa, France, Syria, Belgium, Australia and Germany.
India's export of basmati rose from 848,919 tonnes to 1.05 million tonnes in 2006-07.
Previously, 597,793 tonnes had been exported in 1998-99. Production of basmati and non-basmati rice is likely to touch 129 million tonnes by 2011-12 on a growth rate basis of 3.7 per cent along with other foodgrains. "Four years down the road, India needs to increase rice productivity by over 40 million tonnes per year, something which is feasible," said an agriculture ministry official.
"In 2006-07, consumption of rice was 88.25 million tonnes. As per the fourth advance estimates on July 19, 2007, the production of rice was over 92 million tonnes. In April 2008, rice production went up to 95.68 million tonnes," the official added.
The Cabinet Committee on Prices (CCP) March 31 increased maximum export price (MEP) for basmati rice to US$ 1200 per tonne though is less likely to impact the export of basmati rice. Basmati and non-basmati rice are staple sources of foreign currency revenue for India. The government had earlier exported basmati worth about US$ 4.61 billion and non-basmati rice worth US$ 6.79 billion during April-December 2006.
APEDA data shows basmati rice exports to Saudi Arabia were 499,584 tonnes, 104,998 tonnes to the UAE and 109,067 tonnes to Kuwait in 2006-07. Indian basmati rice lovers include Uganda, Angola, Congo, Botswana, Fiji, Ghana, Cameroon, Chile, Romania, Zambia and Surinam.
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