Bundi Basmati rice on its way to snag GI tag
KOTA: The popular Basmati rice of Bundi is aiming for the prestigious
Geographical Indication (Gl) tag with the joint support of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the Consortium for Industry Development and Awareness (CIDA) which held a one-day workshop for rice millers and other stakeholders to discuss the registration of the produce in Bundi on Friday.
CIDA and NABARD have jointly decided to file an application for the Gl tag of the Basmati variety. At the workshop, a presentation was made on the history of the Bundi rice, evidence and documentation required for the Gl tage to millers, district industry officials and other stockholders, said CID secretary Prasun Jain.
“No efforts made earlier by millers to apply for Gl tag’
Due to the absence of the geographical marker, local millers were unable to export the product directly and had to depend on exporters from Haryana and Delhi, reducing the brand value. However, no efforts were made earlier by local millers to apply for the Gl tag and CIDA initiated the process, he said.
The rice is produced in over 67,000 hectares in Bund and is exported to Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia as well as big businesses in India and abroad, CIDA president Dr Rohit Jain said. The rice recorded a business of Rs 1,800 crore in 2022,including Rs 1,400 crore through exports. Over 6,000 people were directly or indirectly employed in rice production in the district, he said. Famed as ‘Dhan Ka Katora’, production has increased from 52 lakh quintals last year to 80 lakh quintals in the current district, Jain said. The rice bears similar characteristics and quality of popular Basmati variants available in the country, he said. Neeraj Goyal, who presides over a Bundi rice business association, said that there were 26 millers currently operating in Bundi.
