June 23, 2017
Special Report
on
|
June 23, 2017 |
Webinar
Basmati, Prospective & Challenges"
(Regional perspectives)
|Date 13-June-2017 | Time 1130-1330 Hrs IST
Sponsored by Induss Pak Corporation & Institute of Research Promotion
Organized by :Riceplus Magazine
Webinar Proceedings
Speakers views
Vijay Setia, Chairman All India Rice Exporters Association
The chairman of the Indian Rice Exporters Association & Managing Director, Chaman Lal Setia Ltd., India, Mr. Vijay Setia spoke at length & with conviction on pre and post-harvest issues confronting Subcontinent common heritage “Basmati".
GI Status for Basmati
Suggested that India & Pakistan should fight together for GI status of Basmati. Basmati can get unique status like French wine “Champaign” ,as it is grown in a specific area, has distinctive characteristics like Aroma.
Global demand & Competition
On competition for Basmati, he is confident that if we maintain quality, consumers are ready to pay premium price.
Quality Standards
Emphasized to implement Phytosanitory principals in Rice Supply Chain(Procurement ,processing, Packaging, warehousing & logistics. Aflatoxin s can be avoided by properly handling & Drying Paddy. Irrational use of Pesticides & Insecticides should be stopped & chemicals doses should be used as recommended by experts & at appropriate stage. New regulations on Triclorzol have been changed from PPM (parts per million to PPB(parts per billion).AIREA is giving training to middlemen in markets & to the growers for use of Pesticide to keel MRL level in control. At harvesting time ,AIREA is collecting random samples to evaluate MRL levels. Social media & promotion material is being used for creating awareness on pesticide uses.
Avoid unhealthy competition
Indian and Pakistani basmati is liked by the overseas buyers. Basmati is the
best rice from India and Pakistan. It is unique and complimented by overseas
consumers. He said the exporters in India & Pakistan are making buyer’s
quality in their customized brands. This gives no identity/recognition to their
own name/brands. He pointed out that to get business Pakistani exporters are competing
with Pakistanis by offering lower prices in competition & and Indians are
competing Indians in global markets and under cutting one another.
Branding
Mr. Vijay Setia, advised Pakistan Basmati exporters to develop their own Brands rather to sell in buyers’ Brands by compromising on Prices & Quality. Brands give identity & better per unit realization.
Shahjahan Malik , Sr. Vice Chairman REAP (Rice
Exporters Association of Pakistan) Highlighted
the importance of new seeds development in Pakistan. His group Guard
Agricultural Research in Private sector is working on new seeds development for
the last
20 years in Pure & Hybrid breeding. Advised Rice exporters to develop own
brands rather than to sell in customized Brand, which does not give identity to
country.
Zulfikar Thaver Chairman, UNISAM
Basmati is a blessing for Pakistan and India both and both need to have targeted and focused efforts for its promotion in global markets said Zulfikar Thaver in a Webinar organized by Rice Plus international daily publication, says a press release. He also urged export credit guarantee facilities for export to third world countries and also currency agreement with Iran. The SME rice exporters and processors both play an important role in value addition of basmati rice and are appreciated in both India and Pakistan.
Thaver the president of the Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) endorsed the views of other speakers from different countries especially the organizer and moderator Hamid Malik who rightly pointed out the declining of buying power, sanctions on Iran, the low recovery, the cost of production due to high cost of farm inputs, primitive systems, supply chain and low yield per acre. Hamid also pinpointed cost of raw material in his introductory remarks. Thaver said Basmati is basmati known for its features and basmati lovers insist on basmati. The other varieties which are non-basmati but being sold as basmati cannot disguise as basmati because basmati known and recognized for its aroma and taste. He said SMEDA and TUSDEC both will soon be working for upgradation from grass roots level.
Faizan Ali Ghouri, Director Finance, MATCO Rice Processing
Finance is the backbone of any commercial organization. Faizan Ghouri highlighted the critical role of finance sourcing, prudent utilization & transparent record keeping. Faizan Ghouri informed the participants that to raise the finance from global institution is possible provided Rice companies in Pakistan keep their accounts as per international standards & to engage reliable & professional Auditing companies to boost the confidence of financial institutes.
Faizan Ghouri emphasized & stressed the importance of Branding for recognition & improve company’s profitability.
Samiullah Naeem, ExVice President REAP, highlighted the role of phytosanitary aspects in Brown rice export to EU,and urged to pay attension to improve quality.to boost the confidence of customers. He urged joint efforts of India and Pakistan for GI and Basmati trademark. Faizan Ghori highlighted the scope of investment in the rice sector and impressed the participants with his purview on the financial aspects He informed the participants that international funding is available in Rice sector but for that our entrepreneurs will have to create transparency & better governance in their organizations by improving internal auditing & management system also emphasized on Chinese technology under CEPEC for rice sector.
Mr. Imran Sheikh of RPL Limited ,highlighted the role of sustainability ,water usage & DSR technology in Rice cultivation. He informed the participants how Rice Partners Limited is collaborating with international Research Institutions & Global Corporate giants like MARS to improve Rice sector sustainability & prudent water usage in Rice Supply chain with ultimate object of enhancing Growers income & improving environmental.
Hamid Malik, Editor in Chief ,”RICE PLUSS” magazine ,moderating the WEBINAR & starting the discussion explained following prospective of Basmati dynamics, Basmati globally has a large Consumers base in Indian subcontinent, Persian Gulf, GCC, West Asia, EU. North America & Africa.
Ever growing Ex Patriates from Indian subcontinent, Arabs & Iranians are major consumers.
Increasing per capita income in North & East Africa is fuelling Basmati consumption in Africa.
There has been a phenomenal increase in Basmati consumption outside the Indian Sub-Continent. During the last decade Basmati export from sub-continent to rest of the world has increased from 1.85 million Tons to 4.7 million tons. India accounting 80% & Pakistan 20%.
R & D in new seeds development, improved Milling & Processing Techniques, Better Marketing & improvement in Phytosanitory aspects has contributed to Basmati growth globally.
Challenges
Diminishing global demand in last 2 years in West Asia. Ever rising & high volatility of global prices, & phytosanitory standards may be one of the reasons.
Low Milling recovery. From 100 Kg harvested Paddy, exportable Rice ranges from 26—30%, due to high %age of broken & unwanted grains.
Non-existant down stream industry for Rice by products. Silica in Husk can be used in glass & Cement industry. Rice bran can be used in pharmaceutical industry & as Neutracilia for human consumption, Bran oil,one of the most healthy oil can be extracted from Bran.
Rising Raw material cost.
Low income to Farmers on stagnant production & increasing cost of inputs.
Old & primitive methods/technology, being used by Farmers.
Flood irrigation to grow rice instead of other advanced technologies which consume less water. Currently 3000-5000 liters of water is being used for producing 1 kg of rice.
Irrational use of water is causing the production of methane gas which is ultimately responsible for damaging ozone layer in space.
Irrational use of Pesticides & insecticides & at improper stage is creating MRL(Minimum Residual Level) issues in final products.
Replacement of Traditional aromatic Basmati varieties by Basmati like non-basmati varieties is going to be a new challenge.
No GI status to Basmati, due to un necessary prolonged legal battle.
Paddy & Rice Milling machinery is not suitable for extra-long Basmati varieties (8mm+, AGL).
Excessive inbreeding caused by use of own seed by Farmers, instead of certified improved seed, is causing dominance of recessive genes of inferior characteristics which ultimately is lowering plant resistance against pests & deterioration in production.
Also spoke on the occasion were Mr. Abdul Khalique, Senwan Pakistan Ltd, Mr. Waqas from Saudi Arabia, Mr. Omer Latif from UAE & Mr. Raza Ul Hassan from Iran.
Compiled by:
Mujahid Ali,Assistant Editor (Riceplus Magazine)
For Query: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
