Exports of non-basmati rice from the country rose to a record 8 million tonnes

- The development of new high yielding rice varieties is likely to lead to further growth in such exports in the near future.

The export of rice from De Shami has recently seen a contradictory atmosphere in the equations. On the one hand, there has been a significant short-term increase in freight for cargo ships in the recent past, and this has had an impact on rice exports from the country. On the other hand, there is good news for rice exporters. A new variety of rice has been developed, which is expected to boost exports of non-basmati rice, market experts said recently.

This new variety has been developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Samba Mussoorie rice is grown in large quantities in the south and east areas and a new variety of rice called Pula-Samba 120 has been developed by testing and upgrading such Samba Mussoorie. Some farmers in Nellore district in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh have reportedly planted this new type of rice in April this year. Experts claim that this type of rice yields an average of about four tonnes of rice per hectare. Pula Samba Mussoorie rice is known as BPT 302 rice. The above mentioned new rice variety which has been developed by upgrading it is known as Pula Samba 150.

Pula Samba Mussoorie variety of rice is grown in South India during the samba season from November to March and the overseas export of such rice is also significant. Some farmers in Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh have also decided to cultivate the newly discovered Pula-Samba 150 varieties of rice during the kharif season. This new type of rice will give higher yield per hectare. In addition, the use of pesticides has to be reduced in agriculture. In the field trial of this rice, indications were found that the yield per hectare ranged from 4 to 5 tons.

The upgraded new variety compared to Samba Mussoorie is likely to be of special use to farmers. Samba Mussoorie was developed in 19 and now an upgraded variety has been developed this year. At present, about 50 different varieties of rice are available in the nation's seed chain. Field trials in some parts of Karnataka have also found high yields of 2.50 tonnes per hectare in new rice plantations.

Market insiders are hoping that if the new type of rice can increase production, rice exports from the country could pick up. Exports of non-basmati rice from the country have increased to 1.4 million tonnes in 2020-21. This figure of exports is considered a record and experts are showing that this record could go even further with the new variety of rice. Exports of non-basmati rice from India were around 20 to 21 lakh tonnes in 2016-17. It has risen sharply to about 150 to 181 lakh tonnes in 2020-21.

The total value of non-basmati rice exports increased from about Rs 12,600 crore in 2016-17 to about Rs 4,006 crore in 2020-91. The possibility of setting a new record in such exports is being discussed in the market if the cultivation of new varieties of rice increases further. Meanwhile, on the one hand, the good news has come in the rice export sector, while on the other hand, the bad news has also come in that the freight of ships carrying goods overseas has increased significantly and this has had an immediate effect on rice exports.

Such fares have almost doubled in the last 11 to 12 months. There are fears in the export market that rising freight rates will adversely affect rice exports, especially to African countries. According to sources in The Rice Exporters Association, African countries are likely to be in a wait-and-see mood in such an environment. About 3 to 4 per cent of the total non-basmati rice exports from India go to African countries, market experts said. Such exports from India to African countries amounted to about ૨ 4.5 billion to ૬ 4.50 billion in 2020-21.

Growth in such exports has now taken a break due to high shipping fares. Freight shipping from India to Africa, which used to be around ૪૪ 5 to ૨ 8 per tonne 11 to 12 months ago, has now risen to ૪ 115 to ૫ 115. Vietnam's purchase of non-basmati rice from India has also recently come to a halt. Meanwhile, the government has recently raised support prices for rice in India. The government has increased the price of such support by Rs 5 per kg to Rs 150. In the tenth kharif season, rice production is expected to increase to around 105 to 104 lakh tonnes, government sources said.