Punjab Basmati exporters seek assurance from Goyal on sticking to current GI area
The Punjab Rice Millers Exporters Association has urged the Centre to maintain the current Geographical Indication (GI) area for Basmati rice, opposing any proposal to include Madhya Pradesh. Exporters warned that expanding the GI region could undermine India’s Basmati heritage, exports and international market reputation, and called for immediate stakeholder consultations.
Amritsar-based Punjab Rice Millers Exporters Association has sought an assurance from Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on the issue of Geographical Indications (GI) granted to Basmati rice that there will not be any change in the area already approved. Exporters have also demanded an immediate stakeholders’ consultation so that no such tinkering takes place to the existing area.
In a letter to Goyal on July 1, Ashok Sethi, director of the Association, has said that any attempt to include Madhya Pradesh under Basmati GI area “is totally unacceptable” and would harm India’s exports. He also cautioned that India would lose the “Heritage and Traditional Value” among the huge international customer base.
“We suggest that a detailed discussion with all stakeholders should be held immediately to dispel the fear of farmers since Punjab and Haryana Basmati farmers and rice millers would be directly affected by any change in GI regime,” he said. The exporters’ body has also sought an assurance that the government “has no intention to tinker with GI Regulations or enhance its areas to include Madhya Pradesh or other states.”
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Source : The Hindu Business Line
