Gandhinagar, 9 May 2021
With the onset of monsoon, this time in 2021-22, rice cultivation will be the highest among the cereal crops in Gujarat. Last year, in 2020-21, the Agriculture Department estimated production of 19.44 lakh tonnes of rice in 8.37 lakh hectares. Which was 2322 kg production per hectare. In summer, rice-paddy is cultivated in Gujarat, but it is about 8% as compared to monsoon. Productivity in summer comes to 3 thousand kg. Gujarat has a total yield of 21.50 lakh tonnes of rice. In which basmati share is very less. Now farmers are searching for Basmati rice seeds.
After the arrival of the Narmada Canal, the area under rice has grown by barely 2 lakh hectares. In the monsoon of 2000-01, rice was cultivated on 5.90 lakh hectares. If the canals had been built, the cultivation and production of basmati rice in Gujarat would have been better. But that did not happen. In 2009-10, monsoon – kharif rice was planted in 4.24 lakh hectares.
Considering the possibility of good rains earlier this year, rice cultivation maybe around 9 lakh hectares. Based on the possibility of a good monsoon, the production is likely to be 22 to 22.50 lakh tonnes. However, the total grain sowing in Gujarat was expected to be 26.87 lakh tonnes in 13.47 lakh hectares in the monsoon last year. The highest yield of 19.44 lakh tonnes of rice was declared by the Department of Agriculture. Jowar, millet, maize, ragi, and small grains were 7.43 lakh tonnes. Thus 35 percent of other grains and 65 percent of rice are harvested.
Therefore, farmers of Gujarat are now trying to get new varieties of Basmati rice.
The kamod and winged varieties of Gujarat are fragrant. The length of grain and the length after cooking is not the same as that of Dehradun basmati. If the length increases from 2 to 2.50 times after cooking, it can be exported.
Gujarat’s aromatic rice varieties include GR101, Kamod 118, Resham Basmati, Pusa Basmati and GAR14 which have very good aroma. It is believed to be from the Navagam Main Rice Research Center (K phone number 02694284278) of Anand Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya.
Scientists at Navgam Rice Research Center have discovered a new variety of fragrant rice, GAR14. The yield is 6 thousand kg per hectare. The scent is good.
There are about 33 improved varieties of rice and rice in Gujarat. Of which GR 101, Narmada 1984 and 1991 belong to Navagam.
Endangered varieties of indigenous varieties like Lal Kada, Sathi, Raj Bengal, Dudhamalai, Ambor are being discovered by the main paddy research center at Navsari Agricultural University.
Black rice has been planted in South Gujarat since last year. On which research is also being done. In Sankhej village of Kheda, Shivram Haresh Patel ordered black rice seeds from Mizoram.
Sale of various varieties of Basmati has started at Basmati Export Development Foundation, Modipuram and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University, Agriculture and Technology, Meerut. From there, farmers can buy seeds and prepare them for the cultivation of Dharu. However, districts of North India are preferred for this rice. The helpline number 8630641798 has been started for farmers with Aadhaar cards. The farmer can come here and buy seeds by depositing money in the bank.
Varieties can take Pusa Basmati 1121, Pusa Basmati 1509, Pusa Basmati 1, Pusa Basmati 1637, Pusa Basmati 1728, Pusa Basmati 1718. One thousand quintal seed was donated last year by the Basmati Export Development Foundation.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel can also buy seeds from the University of Agriculture and Technology. In which you can take seeds of Pusa Basmati 1509, Pusa Basmati 1121, Pusa Basmati 1718, Pusa Basmati 1937, and Pusa Basmati 1. The price of the original seed will be Rs 70 per kg and that of the certified seed will be Rs 65 per kg. The seeds are available in ten kg packets. Decide to buy only after talking to Dinesh Kumar 9897609022, Suresh Chand: 9456262925 for seeds as the first seeds are given to the farmers of North India. Despite being the Minister of State for Agriculture in Gujarat, Basmati rice seeds are not provided. Unlike the 63 million tonnes of basmati rice produced in the country, farmers in Gujarat grow very little basmati rice.
So far 29 varieties of basmati have been discovered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research out of which Pusa Basmati 1 and 1637 Basmati varieties are good. Yields range from 22 to 25 quintals.