In news- Two consignments of 4.5 MT of patented ‘village rice’ ( non- basmati rice variety) was recently sourced from Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu to Ghana & Yemen.
More information-
- It is sourced directly from farmers of Thanjavur, also known as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu.
- The consignment was exported by a start-up Udaya Agro Farm.
- The rice is enriched with protein, fibre, and a variety of minerals.
- The exports of non-Basmati have witnessed a growth of 146 % in Rupee terms and 137 % Dollar terms in 2020-2021.
- In March, 2021, the first consignment of ‘red rice’ from Assam was exported to the USA.
- Iron rich ‘red rice’ is grown in Brahmaputra valley of Assam, without the use of any chemical fertilizer.
- The rice variety is referred to as ‘Bao-dhaan’, an integral part of Assamese food.
- In earlier May, a consignment of rice was exported from the Paradip International Cargo Terminal, Odisha to Vietnam.
- This was for the first time in recent years, non-basmati rice was exported from Paradip Port.
- Non-basmati rice exports to African and Asian countries are undertaken from various ports of India such as Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Mundra and Krishnapatnam.
- APEDA is working with various stakeholders such as farmers, entrepreneurs, exporters and importers across the globe to harness India’s non-basmati rice exports potential.
- The government has set up the Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF), under the aegis of the APEDA.
- REPF has representatives from rice industry, exporters, officials from APEDA, ministry of commerce and directors of agriculture from major rice producing states including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
Source: PIB
