New Delhi: Haryana is preparing to disable dangerous pesticides in Basmati rice in an effort to facilitate grain export to developed and other markets with high food safety standards.
Neighboring Pandjab – such as Haryana is the main agricultural state – has already forced such a ban to fulfill what is called the international limits of maximum residues (MRL).
These two countries represent almost 70% -75% of Indian exports of Basmati 6 Mllon (in FY25). MRL is the highest concentration of the rest of the pesticides or veterinary drugs legally allowed in food or animal feed, which was determined to ensure food safety based on good agricultural practices (GAP).
The Union government also imposed a ban on four highly dangerous pesticides.
The exports of Basmati Rice from India faced repeated rejection of the European Union, the US, Japan, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon and SAE, because of the remains of pesticides that go beyond the prescribed MRL importing countries, the Association of Haryan Rice Exporters Association.
This has led to a significant loss of export business, damage to reputations and a decline in the share of India on the market, most of which have moved to competitors such as Pakistan.
Replication of the Punjab initiative
The movement of Haryan is trying to replicate the initiatives received in the pandjab.
“We have banned the sale, distribution and use of 11 insecticides on the crops of Basmati rice for 60 days, from 1 August to 30 September to deal with concern for pesticides that exceed the permissible limits,” said a higher official in the Panjab Department.
Forbidden insecticides are acephate, buprofezine, chlorpyrifos, propiconazole, thiamethoxam, profenofos, carbendazim, tricyclazol, tebuconazole, carbofuran and imidacloopride.
Pandjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association said the tests carried out previously showed these pesticides on levels that were much above the MRL values for basmati.
“So our association has asked for a ban on these agrochemicals to save the production of Basmati inheritance in Pandjab and ensure that the smooth export of basmati rice to other countries,” he said on condition of anonymity.
Haryan Basmati exporters signed up for the state government and also signed up for the state government looking for a ban.
“We were looking for an immediate intervention of the state government on the ban on sale, supplies, distribution and the use of certain pesticides on the Basmati crop in Haryana to protect the integrity and global reputation of Basmati rice grown in the state,” said Sushil Jain, President Haryan Rice Rice Exporters.
Undetermined availability
According to exporters, despite the continuing efforts of exporters’ associations – through the programs of the awareness of farmers and advice – pesticides remained widely available and in use, which undermined all efforts.
“Given the upcoming season of unpeeled cultivation and urgent needs to protect the inheritance and viability of Basmati exports, we referred to the state government to impose a ban for at least 90 days (during the non -peeled crop season) on July 15 for sale, distribution and use of certain pesticides.”
The pesticides for which the ban has been sought after is the same as in the pandjab.
The head of the official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Haryana in Haryana said that the final decision -related decision will be taken after consultation with the parties and other relevant officials concerned.
The exporters have proposed that the ban should be strictly carried out at the field level and that a monitoring and complaint should be determined to prevent illegal sale and use of these pesticides.
“We believe that the implementation of the ban on pesticides in Haryana in accordance with this vision will lead a long way in promoting pesticides compatible with basmatic rice and reviving the lost position of India in some foreign markets,” said Vijay Setia, advisor to Haryan Rice Exporters Association.
(Tagstotranslate) basmati rice
