A huge decline in Basmati rice export is feared by Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap). Reap Chairman Jawad Ali Ghouri has expressed concern over the decline as compared to last fiscal year. In a statement issued here he said that during this fiscal year, "we are facing a decline of 252,900 metric tons in quantity and $260.6 million in value of total rice exports from Pakistan.
He urged the government to take appropriate measures and encourage farmers to adopt latest technology to increase productivity so that better quality rice is available for exports from Pakistan. He further advised authorities to discourage the trend of stock pilling for artificial price hike and educate the farmers to take steps to reduce production cost.
He quoted the following Basmati rice export figures: July 2011 to May 15, 2012 total quantity exported stood at 834,064 metric tons valued at $720, 588,983. From July 2012 to May 15, 2013 total quantity exported stood at 496,917 metric tons valued at $490,305,057, which shows a decline of 40 per cent.
Ghouri expressed hope that newly elected government will play its vital role for the betterment of rice export trade and resolved the problems being faced in Basmati rice exports. He recommended that it was important to initiate grower friendly program for the awareness of farmers, which will ultimately be beneficial for over all rice industry.
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