Haryana to export basmati to Australia

Chandigarh, July 17 (UNI) Haryana has bagged the export orders for supplying superior basmati rice to Australia, after a gap of five years.

While announcing this here today, Haryana Cooperation Minister Meena Mandal said the Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (Hafed) had bagged export order for basmati rice worth 25000 dollars from Australia's 'Ostindo International' firm.

She said that the Federation was planning to enter Australian market in a big way by ensuring supply of best quality basmati rice. The export order was for 23 tonnes of basmati rice, but Hafed had set a target to export 5000 tonnes of rice during 2007-08, Ms Mandal said.

"To meet the growing demand of the export market, Hafed has already geared up its production unit at Taraori. Moreover, to improve the quality of rice, Hafed is also installing new machineries at the cost of Rs 1.50 crore, which includes State-of-the-Art Whiteners Silky Machine and Colour Sortex Machines," the minister said.

The Minister said that a scheme for the production of basmati paddy through contract farming had been introduced in the state, especially to cater to the demand for the best quality rice in Australia and the Middle East.

Through this scheme, Hafed would be able to procure raw material for the production of pure basmati rice, she said.

The scheme, apart from improving the quality of rice, would also help the farmers in getting better prices of their produce, the Minister added.

UNI