Rice Researchers Reject Indian Accusation of Seed Technology Piracy
Published on: April 3, 2024.
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Pakistan’s rice scientists have vehemently denied an Indian claim that two high-yielding basmati varieties being cultivated in the country were stolen from India. The rice industry is urging the government to take concrete action to counter fresh Indian propaganda aimed at undermining Pakistan’s rice exports.
Dr. Muhammad Ijaz, the director of the Rice Research Institute (RRI), dismissed the Indian claim as baseless propaganda. He stated that the claim had no credibility and was completely unfounded. According to India’s agricultural scientists, Pakistani rice growers and exporters have engaged in seed technology piracy by renaming basmati rice varieties developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), PUSA 2011 and 1509.
The director of IARI, A K Singh, alleged that Pakistani rice export companies were selling these varieties in the international market under different names, namely Kainat 2011 and Kissan Basmati. Singh has called for legal action to be taken against Pakistani seed firms involved in piracy to safeguard the interests of Indian rice farmers and exporters.
Dr. Ijaz disputed these allegations and highlighted that the DNA of the Pakistani varieties was distinct from the Indian seeds. He suggested that the rapid growth in rice exports from Pakistan had prompted the director of IARI to make such baseless claims.
Meanwhile, the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has requested samples and DNA profiles of both Pakistani and Indian rice varieties from the RRI for third-party assessment and DNA sequencing for comparison. This step aims to provide evidence for the dissimilarity between the two sets of rice varieties.
The Indian allegations and propaganda against Pakistan’s rice exports have raised concerns within the industry. Industry stakeholders and experts have called on the relevant government authorities, particularly the commerce ministry, to take immediate action to counter the Indian propaganda. They fear that if not addressed promptly, it could negatively impact rice export shipments from the country.
Shahzad Ali Malik, the Chairman of the Pakistan Hi-Tech Hybrid Seed Association, expressed deep concern over the allegations. He emphasized the need for the government to take the accusations seriously and collaborate with the rice industry to counter India’s attempts to disrupt Pakistan’s basmati exports. Malik also highlighted past attempts by India to claim exclusive rights to basmati rice’s geographical indication (GI) tag, emphasizing the need for a strong response to protect Pakistan’s basmati heritage.
The rice industry in Pakistan remains resilient and determined to safeguard its exports. With the support of the government and relevant authorities, they aim to counter the baseless allegations and continue the upward trajectory of Pakistan’s rice exports.
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