Basmati rice exports increase 11.54% in April-October: Govt

New Delhi: India's exports of basmati rice grew by 11.54 per cent to Rs 16,963 crore during April-October this fiscal, Parliament was informed Monday.

In April-October 2017-18, the exports stood at Rs 15,208 crore, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry C R Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. In volume terms, however, the exports declined to 22.95 lakh tonnes in April-October 2018-19 as against 23.72 lakh crore in the same period last fiscal. "While there is a marginal decline of 3.28 per cent per cent in quantity terms, in value terms the exports have grown by 11.54 per cent," the minister said. The major export destination for basmati rice are Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Yemen, the US, and UK.

The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, an autonomous organisation under the Department of Commerce, has registered Basmati Rice as a Geographical Indication in February 2016, a move aimed at promoting outbound shipments.