Punjab Likely to Ban 9 Pesticides for Basmati

Basmati, which is grown in Punjab, has a significant pesticide residue, which endangers its export potential. With the AAP government's goal of reducing the amount of land planted in water-guzzling paddy, attention has switched to minimizing pesticide use on the basmati crop.

This year, the government is considering banning the use of nine pesticides on basmati rice. With the support of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, a centre for evaluating pesticide content in basmati rice would be established in Amritsar.

When these pesticides were prohibited in 2019, the export of basmati from Punjab skyrocketed. Exporters argue that basmati exports have suffered as a result of the refusal to ban these pesticides last year. According to the report, basmati exports from India amounted 4.71 million metric tonnes in 2019, with Punjab accounting for 40% of these shipments. Exports from India as a whole fell to 4.02 million metric tonnes in 2021. Pesticides was banned once more in 2020, according to the government. Due to the delays of the ban, exports fell to 4.33 million metric tonnes.

Vikram Marwaha, a basmati exporter from Tarn Taran, stated that because the state is working on extending the area under basmati, farmers may expect greater returns because worldwide demand is growing. "The strengthening of the dollar will aid in improved realisation, and we expect farmers to get at least a 10% increase in value," he added. The highest price basmati producers received for their crop last year was Rs 4,200 per quintal.

The area under basmati had decreased the previous year. According to Agriculture Director Gurwinder Singh, the department plans to raise the area under basmati from 4.85 lakh hectares to 5.50 lakh hectares. "There is potential to extend the basmati area to 7.50 lakh hectares." Slowly, but gradually, we'll get there. Although basmati paddy yields less than non-basmati paddy, the returns are better. If the farmer receives Rs 3,700-4,000 per quintal, he is on level with non-basmati paddy farmers. "The agency will raise awareness about the use of pesticides that importers have banned so that farmers can obtain the greatest price," he added.

Exporter Arvinder Singh stated, “We'll be able to expand shipments to West Asia by around 10-15% over last year if the state releases the notification on time. The most important markets for pesticide residue testing are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Iraq.”