''Rice regulatory body'' to be set up to promote export

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) is planning to set up a ''rice regulatory body'' to promote its sales in international market, sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday.
"Pakistan is unable to increase sale of rice in the global market in spite of lower prices than in other countries in the subcontinent. We could not attract international customers for Irri even at $100 per 100 kg less price. The price of this variety in the international market is $480 per 100 kg, while the price of our product is $410 per 100 kg", they said.
Pakistan''s exports to UAE and Iran decreased by 400 to 500 tons as these countries have slapped ban on import of Pakistani rice after moisture was found in it, which obviously affects its quality. Talks are underway to restart trade of rice with these countries, sources said.
They said that Russia has also banned import of rice from Pakistan due to ''Khapra'' beetle pest. The proposed ''rice regulatory body'', sources said, would also have to find out ways and means to maintain reputation of the Pakistani rice with reference to better quality in the international market.
They said that during 2007-08 rice was cultivated on about 2.52 million hectares and its total production was 5.5 million tons. Out of this, 2.5 million tons was basmati and 3.00 million tons Irri, while 50,000 tons of last year''s stock was already available.
They said that "we should locally consume Irri rice and export the expensive basmati variety to earn maximum foreign exchange as our total annual local consumption is 2.5 million tons, out of which 1.5 million tons basmati is consumed locally. They said that another non-registered variety of rice, PK-386, is being cultivated in the country on large area due to its high production ratio but it does not fetch good price. Farmers should avoid cultivation of this variety, they suggested.
Sources said that training courses would be started for capacity building of the farmers and the millers as 30 percent crop goes waist during transportation from field to mill and its subsequent processing.
They said that imported seed of the crop would be tested first in the laboratory as it gives low yield due to different local weather conditions causing loss to the farmers. Local certified seed would be provided for cultivation to get maximum production.