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Basmati rice in Sindh
Arshad Khaliq
ARTICLE (May 21 2003) : Thanks to the shortage of water, Sindh has been switching over to the basmati rice from the coarse rice.
Sindh that has been known for the production Irri-6 and Irri-9 rice, has produced about 300,000 tonnes basmati rice this year.
Harvesting of such substantial quantity is the first time in the history of province.
Non-availability of water due to the shortage of irrigation water in the rice belt of Larkana division and adjoining areas in Balochistan province forced the rice growers to try other varieties especially 385 that is famous for requirement of water at low level.
Growers attributed that this experience was very successful and quality of the rice produced in Sindh is not only equal of the rice produced in Punjab but also the fragrance is better.
As it is the first time that Sindh harvested the superior quantity, produces of it are fetching low prices as compared to the Punjab.
Average price received by the milled rice of Sindh is about Rs 19,500 per tonne that is lowered by Rs 3,500 per tonne as compared to the produces of Punjab.
To maintain the trend the government should take preventive measures to boost the cultivation of superior quality of rice in Sindh.
First of all, the provincial government to ensure the supply of pure seed to the farmers to prevent the ad-mixture at the field level.
Second, the government must develop zones for the cultivation of basmati rice to give protection to other varieties specially Irri-9 that's demand is very high in Iran and Middle East.
This year, growers are going to cultivate Super Kernel that is another high quality basmati rice variety.
Source: Business
Recorder
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