Won’t grow basmati again: Farmers
Monday, 09/11/2015
http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Tribune/
Fazilka : Dismayed over the poor price the 1121 basmati paddy variety fetched this season, farmers might not grow the crop next year. They say they would again grow the traditional parmal variety that was sold for higher prices this season. The farmers have asked the Central Government to work out an effective basmati export policy to bail them out.
Sources said the average yield of parmal paddy per acre was about 33 quintal this year and its minimum support price (MSP) was Rs 1,450 per quintal. Thus, farmers earn about Rs 47,850 per acre.
On the other hand, the average yield per acre for 1121 basmati paddy variety is about 19 quintals, while its price per quintal is Rs 1,650. So the farmers cultivating this variety earn only Rs 31,350 per acre.
“We will sow parmal paddy in the future as growing basmati proved to be costly,” said farmer Jawinder Singh of Nurpura village, who grew basmati on 8 acres.
Moreover, the input cost of cultivating basmati paddy is also higher. “Farmers have to spray pesticide on the basmati crop nearly three times more compared to parmal variety. Besides, the plantation of basmati paddy also costs high,” said farmer Mangal Singh of Jorki Andhewali village.
Sources said basmati was sown on 72,000 hectares this year, while parmal on 25,000 hectares in Fazilka district. Over 30 per cent of basmati paddy amounting to 7 lakh quintals arrived in the Fazilka grain market and 16 purchase centres so far.
If the farmers switched back to growing parmal variety from next year, it would hit the governme
