The Establishment of Basmati Export Zones Essential for Ensuring Quality Control

The government of India and policymakers such as FSSAI are adopting the global mindset towards addressing the challenges associated with quality basmati rice export from India. In accordance with that, authorities are destined to implement quality control policies across the select export zones. 

All the production stages will be monitored under quality control supervision, and this shall continue till the product reaches the consumer. Thus, such an effort would be a successful achievement for the dedicated basmati rice export zone. 

People can consider the export zone as a reliable rice producer with globally acceptable products. In this article, you will get a detailed understanding of why the establishment of export zones and quality control at those sites are of utmost importance. 

Why Are Basmati Export Zones Important in India?

The establishment of the basmati export zones will help India reduce the effects of grain adulteration and promote the production of genuine basmati. As per the quality norms, the basmati grains should be 7mm in length and 2.5mm in breadth. 

It is just one of the many reasons why there should be export zones and quality control measures for the production of basmati rice. It is imperative because the need to maintain the purity of basmati depends on the choice of agro-climatic conditions for growing the crops. 

The aroma that is the signature of basmati rice is formed due to some specific compounds during the growing phase, which is produced at the initial stages, mostly while the plant flowers. The aroma is then transferred to the grains naturally and remains preserved only if the temperatures around are low at the ripening phase. 

The genetic characteristics associated with the basmati rice are expressed only when certain climatic or soil conditions are met. 

Export zones are important within the states that support the production or growth of basmati rice. Some of the states include Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and others. In these states, the climate and soil conditions are favourable for the production of basmati, and the temperatures also lower while the crops are at their ripening stage. 

Earlier, when there was no quality control established across the export zones, India suffered in the race to provide the best quality basmati rice. Upon being tested, the rice quality was poor as there were high pesticide levels in the grains. Therefore, the urge for dedicated authorities to implement quality control on priority became more than essential. 

As of today, eco-efficient pesticide technologies are being used to rectify the issue and take note of other possible ways to enhance the adoption of Indian basmati on a global scale. 

What Things are to be Implemented in the Basmati Export Zones to Ensure Quality Control?

The specific basmati export zones will be destined to produce only the type of rice that’s recommended for the zone. Following that, the zones must also integrate a transparent system to assess the type of basmati being grown. Some of the things that the export zones will take care of to ensure quality control are:

• The overall cropping system
• Suitability of the soil
• Use of fertilisers
• Use of pesticides
• Amount of energy and water used or required 
• Adoption of quality standards at each stage from plantation to maturity
• Handling of the rice after harvest
• Processing & marketing of the basmati rice

All of these factors are monitored in all basmati export zones across India. Positive reports on all these aspects are what would ensure that the rice is exportable and acceptable for the consumers. 

Apart from basmati rice quality assessment, there are a few other things that are associated with this initiative of setting up export zones and promoting quality control, which include:

• Development of a basmati seed production or supply system across the specific zones. This will ensure the availability of quality seed to all the basmati growers. 
• The traders and farmers should be educated and trained intensively with respect to the economic and technological aspects of producing quality basmati and doing its marketing. 

With such approaches, you can expect that either processed or raw basmati grains will be able to compete with the competitors in the market on a global scale. 

Earning the Demand for Indian Basmati Among Foreign Buyers!

Earlier, as Indian basmati rice wasn’t meeting the quality standards, the foreign buyers lost their confidence in the product and headed out to the competitor, Pakistan! The reason why Pakistan was somehow excelling in the field of product quality and aromatic basmati is they established transparent quality control earlier than India did. They allowed the buyers to check the quality of rice before making the purchase. 

But India is known for coping with the flaws and coming out stronger! Therefore, the export zones are now established, which prevents the basmati grains from being blended with other varieties or contents. The adoption of quality control standards has now helped traders, growers, and rice brands be aligned with the genuine norms of producing and selling basmati. 

As the international market for basmati is very much conscious about quality, they are using DNA fingerprinting technology to identify the use of blends in basmati. This helps them ensure whether the branding of the basmati variety is credible or not. So, to ensure the export challenges revolving around basmati get solved, proficient quality control needs to be established across all specified zones. 

As of now, basmati rice from India is exported to West Asia, the US, Tanzania, South Africa, and the European Union. APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) specifies that India holds 65% of the market with respect to global basmati export. There are plans to scale this dominance and improve the quality of basmati being produced in the nation. 

Conclusion

This is what explains the importance of establishing basmati export zones in India and monitoring the processes imposed for the production, marketing, and exporting of rice. The authorities in India are taking massive leaps to improve the quality of basmati varieties in the country.

There have been mandatory rules introduced for producers to eradicate the use of blends. In case they use some, they must mention the same on the packaging or to foreign buyers to leave no room for false assumptions or purchases. With this, India is setting an example in the field of basmati production! 

One brand that has always been at the forefront of taking on these challenges and proving Indian basmati as the best in the world is India Gate Foods!