Global Rice News

Even as the demand for basmati rice from India is expected to reach new heights, scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) have raised concerns over the illegal cultivation of their top varieties in Pakistan. The director of IARI, A.K. Singh, has called for legal action against unscrupulous seed companies in Pakistan to safeguard the interests of Indian farmers and exporters.

Singh revealed that the unauthorized sale and cultivation of IARI varieties started with Pusa Basmati-1121 (PB-1121). This variety, known for its long grains, has been officially registered as ‘PK 1121 Aromatic’ in Pakistan. It is being marketed as ‘1121 Kainat’ basmati rice by various companies, such as Leela Foods in Karachi and Latif Rice Mills in Lahore.

But PB-1121 is not the only IARI-bred variety being grown in Pakistan. Other popular varieties like Pusa Basmati-6 (PB-6) and PB-1509 have also made their way to Pakistan and are being sold under different names. PB-1509, for example, has been renamed as ‘Kissan Basmati’ in Pakistan.

There are even YouTube videos showcasing newer IARI varieties in Pakistan, such as Pusa Basmati-1847 (PB-1847), PB-1885, and PB-1886. These improved versions of the original varieties are resistant to bacterial blight and rice blast fungal disease.

All the varieties bred by IARI are legally protected under the Seeds Act, 1966 in India. They can only be cultivated by Indian farmers and cannot be sold or distributed in branded and labeled form without the breeder’s permission.

So how are these protected varieties being grown in Pakistan? The answer lies in the fact that it only takes a small amount of seed to plant a large area. For instance, just 5 kg of seeds of PB-1847 can yield over 2,800 kg of grain in just four months. Pakistani seed companies acquire a few kg of these grains from India, either through cross-border trade or from wholesale marketplaces in Punjab or Haryana, and multiply them for commercial sale.

In the current fiscal year, India is expected to export a record 50 lakh tonnes of basmati rice worth $5.5 billion. Most of the basmati area in India is sown with IARI-bred varieties, especially PB-1121, PB-1509, and PB-1885.

In contrast, Pakistan’s basmati exports are much lower at 7.58 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 and 5.95 lakh tonnes in 2022-23. However, there has been an increase in both quantity and value of their shipments in 2023-24, driven by the depreciation of the Pakistani rupee. Pakistan’s basmati export prices are currently lower than India’s.

While Pakistan has a significant market share in the European Union and the United Kingdom due to their cheaper currency, India dominates in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other West Asian countries where consumers prefer parboiled rice. Experts believe that Pakistan’s piracy of IARI varieties could pose problems in the future and urge India to assert its ownership over these varieties.

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