Basmati acreage rises in India as strong prices offset monsoon risks

New Delhi: India’s basmati rice acreage is expected to increase this kharif season as strong prices and strong export demand encourage farmers to shift away from conventional paddy fields, even as patchy monsoon rains slow overall rice sowing, according to exporters, farmers and industry experts.

Farmers in Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Jammu are expected to expand cultivation of short-duration basmati varieties, which mature about three weeks earlier than traditional varieties and help reduce the risk of delayed rainfall and moisture stress.

The shift occurs when total paddy seeding is lagging behind last year’s pace. More than 16.6 million hectares were panned between June 1 and July 17, down from 16.7 million hectares a year earlier.

India, the world’s second largest producer and largest exporter of rice, has produced 13.5 million tonnes of basmati rice from 2.4 million hectares in the 2025-26 marketing year. Basmati exports reached 6.5 million tonnes, valued at US$5.67 billion during the year, compared to US$5.94 billion a year earlier.

Paddy is a water-intensive crop that is largely dependent on timely rainfall during sowing and transplanting. The share of basmati on the total area of rice is 5-6%

“Farmers got better prices for basmati last season and we expect acreage to increase this year. However, the picture will become clearer by the end of this month,” said Satish Goel, president of the All India Rice Exporters Association, an association of rice exporters in India.

Premium basmati varieties like Pusa-1121 and Pusa-1509 traded between them ₹3,200 a ₹4,000 per quintal last year, which is well above the minimum support price ₹2,369 per quintal for regular paddy.

Short-lived varieties are gaining favor

Farmers say the acreage under short-duration basmati is likely to increase as erratic rainfall forces growers to opt for the crop, which matures in 115-125 days, about 20-25 days earlier than conventional basmati.

Short-duration varieties accounted for 38.2% of India’s total basmati area last year and are widely grown in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.

“We expect an increase in the area of short-duration basmati varieties as the monsoon has failed this year,” said Ajit Singh, a farmer from Amritsar district in Punjab.

Acreage is currently similar to last year but could increase if rainfall improves in the coming weeks, said Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal. “However, if the rainfall progresses well, we may see an increase in the area.”

Experts cautioned that it is still too early to estimate the acreage of long-duration basmati varieties. Although basmati cultivation is largely irrigated, rainfall during critical crop stages remains important for yields.

After muted monsoon activity, rainfall is expected to pick up in the northwest plains from July 20.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted widespread rainfall in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh between July 20 and 25, which could boost planting.

Inquiries emailed to the Department of Agriculture and farmers remained unanswered as of press time.

Export outlook

Exporters said sustained demand from West Asia helped keep basmati prices firm last season and encouraged farmers to retain or expand acreage.

However, conflict in West Asia has disrupted supply chains, prompting experts to call for diversification of export markets.

The Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz crisis have partially disrupted the basmati supply chain. “The protracted war has raised concerns among Indian basmati rice exporters as transport and insurance charges have increased manifold, leading to a sharp rise in basmati rice prices,” said Jajati K. Pattnaik, professor and chairman of the Center for West Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, UAE, Yemen, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar account for up to 75% of India’s annual basmati exports.

“To reduce India’s export dependence on West Asia during the conflict, India can diversify its basmati rice exports to Canada and the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain in Europe and African markets (Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, etc.),” Pattnaik added.

“India should look for alternative shipping routes and make more efficient use of ports on the south and east coasts,” said Nutan Kaushik, CEO of the Amity Food and Agriculture Foundation, a central research center at Amity University focused on agricultural development, food security and nutrition.