Punjab's basmati rice is safe for consumption through out the world

Amritsar, Sep 29 (ANI): The rice exporters from Punjab on Tuesday claimed that the 1121 basmati rice produced in the state is safe for consumption throughout the world, having no contents of lead, cadmium or arsenic.

Reportedly an Iranian laboratory had raised some doubts over the Indian basmati rice, raising doubt among the exporters.

India is leading exporter of rice to Iran and other countries in the world and businessmen have been in this trade for more than three decades.

Arvinder Pal Singh Manchanda of famous Lal Qilla Brand said that Indian rice is very famous all around the world.

He said: "We have been regularly getting our rice product tested from various certified laboratories of the world, and no such elements were found in our basmati rice."

The rice traders of Punjab Millers Exporters Association produced the recent report dated Sept 29, 2009, of the rice analysis done by internationally by reputed SGS India Pvt Ltd., which stated that there was no detection of lead, cadmium and arsenic contents from the recent samples sent to them from Punjab.

Confirming the reports, K.R.S. Sobti, a leading exporter of Deva Singh Sham Singh, said that it was a propaganda spread by some people who are having their specific agenda.

He assured that basmati production from Punjab still have same aroma, taste and is very good for health which has been proved scientifically.

Sobti said that false rumours are being spread to create doubts in the minds of consumers, which has shocked the exporters community.

India exported nearly 1.1 million tonnes of rice of which a major share of rice exports went to Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Ramneek Singh of K. S. Argo Exports, said: "It is high time the India Government should intervene to clear the doubts if Iran has regarding rice exported from here as both the governments enjoy very good relations. Moreover, we have not only got our product tested from SGS, but also from 'Euro fins' in Germany."

Farmers in Punjab are of optimism of having a bumper crop of paddy despite a delayed monsoon this year.

Farmers sowed basmati rice in more than seven lakh hectares this year, out of which 6.5 lakh hectares was used for the 1121 asmati, double the area used by them last year. In 2008, they had sown the 1121 basmati in around three lakh hectares. By avinder Singh Robin (ANI)