news details |
|
|
| In J&K, neglect leading to slow death of famed Basmati rice of RS Pura | | | Gopal Gupta
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Aug 13: State government’s myopic policy of imposing ban on the export of famous Basmati rice of R.S.Pura tehsil in Jammu district has adversely impacted economic life of farmers of this basmati belt of Jammu and Kashmir.
Farmers allege that they are at mercy of the Rice Mill owners who bargain with them at their choicest rates. Official sources of Agriculture Department said that total area under rice production in Jammu region was 111.66 thousand hectares in 2006-07 while production was 273.14 metric tons. They added that area increased to 123.32 thousands hectares in 2007-08 while production touched 322.36 metric tons.
Officials disclosed that five types of Basmati’s are cultivated in Jammu and Kashmir which are popularly known as Ranbir Basmati, Sanwal Basmati, Pussa-2511 basmati, hybrid PHB-71 basmati, and Basmati-370. They said that of these five types, Basmati-370 is famous for its aroma and maximum farmers of R.S.Pura and adjoining areas prefer to cultivate this type.
IT needs to be emphasized that Basmati rice is cultivated only in the Jammu province of the state and total area of the state under basmati rice cultivation was 18.50 thousand hectares in year 1997-98 and production was 37.25 thousand tons. Cultivated area and production of basmati rice increased in 1999-2000 and in successive years. Total area under Basmati rice cultivation was 31.99 thousand hectares in 2007-08 including around 26000 hectares in Jammu, 2500 hectares in Samba and 3250 hectares in Kathua. Production of Basmati rice in this cultivated land was 86.79 metric tons in 2007-08.
Official sources of Agriculture department maintain that due to delayed monsoons production, yield of basmati rice is set to decrease this year. Rice Growers Association President Devraj Choudhary of R.S. Pura said that most villagers have farming as the source of livelihood and due to ban on the export of basmati; mostly farmers have stored the paddy of last year in their households because they could not get the desired market price of the paddy. He added that the Rice Mill owners have a nexus with other mill owners and they never buy paddy from the farmers on the rates prevailing in the market.
Choudhary said that farmers earn their livelihood in difficult conditions since the expenditure on the cultivation has increased but the market price of the rice has not increased at the same pace as the expenditure. He said that farming sector in India is declining as the central government is not giving any subsidy or benefits to the farmers.
Another farmer, Parveen said that the state government is responsible for deplorable condition of the farmers since it is the government which has banned the export of basmati rice. He added that ban on export of Basmati rice was lifted in 2004 by state government after a long struggle by the farmers. But the ban was re-imposed in the year 2006 on the argument of controlling its price in state.
He added that due to ban on Basmati Rice, cost of Paddy has declined to Rs. 1200 per quintals. Farmer Ramesh Choudhary said that ban on the export of basmati rice was prevailing from many decades which was lifted in 2004 but again imposed after two years. Farmers further added that state government has not fixed price of basmati rice and instead, mill owners have fixed it.
Sources said that FCI started procurement of rice in 2003-04 but procurement policy didn’t benefit the farmers. Jasbeer Singh, a farmer said that due to ban on export of basmati rice, delicious Basmati-370 is not competing with farmers of others state. They alleged that there is a nexus of state government and Rice Millers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
