Government accused of neglecting farmers and Basmati rice exporters
Published on: March 22, 2024.
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The government of India has been accused by the Congress of not taking any action to protect the interests of farmers and exporters of Basmati rice. It is claimed that Basmati rice, which is grown illegally in Pakistan using India’s ‘protected’ Basmati varieties, is causing a decline in rice exports and loss of income for farmers.
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary, stated that Basmati rice farmers have been burdened with export duties and export bans for several years, resulting in a significant decrease in rice exports and financial losses for farmers. Ramesh accused the Modi Sarkar of either neglecting the issue or intentionally causing harm to farmers for the past ten years.
Furthermore, Ramesh asserted that protected Indian Basmati rice varieties are being unlawfully grown in Pakistan and sold on the global market. He criticized the government for failing to protect the interests of farmers, breeders, and exporters. Indian farmers, who invest in high-yielding seeds and fertilizers, are experiencing losses due to the inability to sell their rice abroad and the competition from illegal foreign Basmati growers.
Ramesh highlighted the lack of attention given to the agriculture ministry since September 2023, after the agriculture minister was assigned to participate in Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. He argued that this negligence has had dire consequences for the nation.
To address these issues, Ramesh promoted the Congress Party’s #KisaanNYAY initiative, which promises a stable import-export policy that benefits farmers. He expressed confidence that after June 2024, Basmati farmers in India will be able to cultivate and sell their rice with the assurance that the government is actively supporting them.
These allegations made by the Congress leader are based on news reports suggesting that India’s ‘protected’ Basmati varieties have been renamed and are being cultivated in Pakistan. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has raised concerns over this illegal cultivation.
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