Haryana seeks inclusion of Pusa 1121 in Basmati

Chandigarh, Oct 20 (UNI) Haryana Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha today urged Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath to include the paddy variety of Pusa 1121 into the category of Basmati so that farmers of the country could be benefitted.

The Agriculture Minister pointed out that earlier Pusa 1121 variety of paddy was included in the category of Basmati rice.

He said the Government of India had imposed ban on export of non Basmati rice to the foreign countries and this decision would adversely affect the interests of the farmers of the state.

Mr Chatha said most of the Pusa variety was being cultivated in the state and it would not be in the interest of the farmers to exclude this variety from the Basmati. He said the Pusa variety was sown by the farmers keeping in mind that the variety belonged to Basmati category.

He urged the Union Commerce Minister that keeping in view the interest of the farming community this Pusa variety would be included again in the category of Basmati.

Member of Paliament Deepender Hooda also urged the Union Commerce Minister to include the variety of Pusa 1121 in the category of Basmati in the interest of the farming community.

UNI