India's share in the world market for basmati rice is about 53 per cent, said the government on Friday.

Minister for State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said that India is the global leader in basmati rice. "Exporters have requested the government for notification of 'super' variety of rice as 'Basmati' rice," the minister told Parliament.

He said the request has been examined and recommended to the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation for necessary Notification under the Seeds Act 1966.

Ramesh said several steps are being taken by the government to increase export of Basmati rice. They include providing assistance to Indian exporters for undertaking publicity campaign, mounting trade delegations abroad, participation in international fairs, buyer-seller meets and providing financial assistance to exporters for improving quality, packaging and brand promotion.

Basmati rice is primarily cultivated in India and Pakistan. The Himalayan foothills are said to produce the best basmati. The Super Basmati, a premium variety from Pakistan and Dehra Dun from India, are the most prized of the basmati varieties.

India is the largest producer and exporter of basmati rice in the world. The annual production in the country hovers at around 10-15 lakh (1-1.5 million) tonnes a year, of which around two-thirds is exported. The remaining is consumed, within the country.

Basmati rice is grown exclusively in the northern part of Western Punjab (on both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border), Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh.

Gulf region remains the major markets for Indian basmati rice and inside Gulf, Saudi Arabia accounts for the major chunk of basmati imports from India. Pakistan is the sole competitor for India in the international market for basmati rice.

India's major markets for basmati rice exports have been Saudi Arabia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bahrain, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the United States, Canada, Belgium , Kuwait, Italy, Oman, Yemen, Netherlands, Jordan, Indonesia, etc. In fact, Saudi Arabia traditionally has been the largest market for Indian basmati rice.

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