KARACHI, Feb 25: Acute shortage of rice varieties like basmati (385), Irri-9 and 386 (non-basmati), which are normally in great demand in the world market, has put export trade of rice in jeopardy, rice exporters said.

A sudden fall in cultivation and production of these varieties is reported to be the main factor for the setback which has put exporters in a fix and is also going to badly damage country’s export market, another exporter said.

The government last year imposed ban on cultivation of 386 (non-basmati) variety, which was being primarily used for blending purposes as per the demand of buyer who has to meet his price constraint.

In the absence of proper guidelines and planning from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) the growers in Punjab this season shifted to such rice varieties which have limited demand in the world market, exporters said.

As a result of this development varieties like Basmati 385, Irri-9 and 386 (non-basmati) fell short as they were cultivated on a much lesser area than previous year. This resulted in sudden shortfall in production and availability of these varieties.

According to official figures last year total area came under rice cultivation in Punjab stood at 4.021 acres, whereas this year it declined to 3.355 acres. Consequently, total production of all rice varieties grown in Punjab fell to 2.081 million tons from 2.577 million tons last year.

However, after abandoning cultivation of 386 variety the growers in the absence of guidelines from Minfal shifted to super basmati rice which resulted in increased production of the produce by almost 10 per cent. Last year super basmati was grown on an area of 2.752 million acres whereas this year it was grown on 2.941 million acres having an increased production of 1.757 million tons from 1.601 million tons

Though this year there is an overall decline in production of all varieties of rice but the most badly effected was Irri-9, which fell short by 55 per cent at 0.261 million tons from 0.592 million tons last year. Similarly, 386 variety which had been banned by the government from cultivation is short by 84 per cent at 61,980 tons.

Nevertheless, the combined production of super basmati and basmati 385 shown in the official figures at 1.757 million tons carry conflicting views from exporters as well as official sources.

According to figures given by Joint Secretary, Minfal, who is also rice and cane commissioner, to the convener of small and medium rice exporters, Zulfikar Thaver, the basmati 385 production has actually fell by about 70 per cent at 0.527 million tons whereas super basmati rice production stood at 1.22 million tons.

As a result of this there is an acute shortage of basmati 385 and exporters are unable to meet their export commitments. Basmati 385 is in great demand in Middle East where it fetches around $400 per ton while super basmati cost higher over $500 per ton, Zulfikar Thaver said.

Another factor which created shortage of these varieties is delay in release of production figures by the MINFAL which gave a lot of time to some strong group of exporters who operated as cartels to hoard these varieties, said the Chairman Union of Small and Medium Enterprises, Mahmood Ghaffar.

The prices of these varieties in the local market also moved higher between 25 to 50 per cent. Basmati 385 prices increased by 30 per cent from Rs16 per kg to Rs21.50, 386 variety rose by 47 per cent at Rs19kg from Rs12 per kg a year ago and Irri-9 is dearer by 25 per cent at Rs18 from Rs11 last year.