Outlook English - Print Subscribers Copy Outlook English, 17 September 2018 | Page 27

r i ce cracker
by G.P. Singh in Chandigarh
prabhjot singh gill
T
he iconic Indian rice, the long-
grained and aromatic Basmati,
is taking a hammering in the in-
ternational market since the
European Union (EU) slapped
new import restrictions—slash-
ing the level of a commonly used fungi-
cide to a hundredth of its earlier per-
missible extent. Thenceforth, Saudi
Arabia has also asked Indian exporters
to cut the fungicide, Tricyclazole,
which is said to be carcinogenic. India
produces more than 60 per cent of the
world’s Basmati, while the West Asian
PADDY CARE A
kingdom is the largest importer,
farmer in Punjab
accounting for nearly 70 per cent of
India’s US $2 million annual exports.
The hardest hit from the clampdown
are farmers in Punjab and Haryana, who
have been using the fungicide for decades
to protect their produce from the ‘rice
blast disease’. The EU order in June last
year said the level of Tricyclazole must be
cut from 1.0 mg per kg to 0.01 mg. India EU, Saudi fungicide norm hits premium Indian rice export
told the EU that the fungicide can be
chemicals and fertilisers to take up the
phased out gradually over three years, going to be the biggest loser.
Last year, farmers in Punjab earned matter with Saudi Arabia to ensure
but the case didn’t hold. According to
sources in the Basmati Exporters’ Asso- anything between Rs 3,000 to 3,200 per there is no disruption in exports. The
ciation, at least 100 containers were sent quintal of their Basmati produce. The association has also approached the
back by Norway, Sweden, England and association says 2.5 lakh tonnes of the Indian ambassador in Riyadh to request
Finland since January, leading to huge rice were purchased from the state last the SFDA to defer implementation of
losses. They say each rejected container year and another 25,000 kg from Jammu the new norms, until a mutually agreea-
involves a cost of Rs 15 lakh to the export- and Kashmir, which is emerging as a ble solution is reached. But an exporter
Basmati producer. The association is warns that “if things do not change,
ers when