Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday asked the State Rice Exporters’ Association (PREA) to adopt cluster of eight-ten villages for quality seed production of basmati varieties like 15,01,421.
Badal also asked them to initiate vigorous efforts for the revival of traditional variety of Basmati-386, which was known for its unique
aromatic fragrance and taste world over.
He impressed upon PREA members, who called on him, to assure all support and cooperation for this pro-farmer cause, which would not only help the state government to boost its efforts of agriculture diversification but also ensure highly remunerative prices of their produce.
“The state agriculture department, along with the Association, could put in efforts jointly for the production of quality Basmati seed as this step is being viewed as giving further impetus to the Basmati’s export potential manifold,” he said while promising to resolve their all pending issues at the forum of Basmati Development Board asking the officers to fix its meeting at the earliest.
Badal also promised to take up the issue of recognition of 1121 variety of Basmati in the Europe with the Union Ministry of Commerce. He also assured them to get the issue of levying entry tax on Basmati varieties of PUSA and Sugandha purchased from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other states, thoroughly examined.