Ministry to monitor quality of Basmathi Rice

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Agriculture Ministry will strictly monitor the quality of imported Basmathi Rice. Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane said the quality of imported Basmati rice is sub-standard.

Minister Abeywardane at a meeting at the Agriculture Ministry recently, said though Sri Lanka is self-sufficient in rice, we still have to import Basmati rice, specially for the tourist industry. "India and Pakistan are the main exporters of high quality Basmati rice. Basmati rice can be cultivated under special climatic conditions. Hot weather during the day and cool weather at night are required for Basmati harvest, which takes about four and a half months to yield." the minister said.

"Basmati rice is more expensive than regular rice due to lower yields and harvesting difficulties. But there is a huge demand for Basmati rice in the local and international market," he said.

"Quality testings conducted over the past three months revealed that the quality of imported Basmati rice is very low and a less amount of Basmati rice has been included in some rice samples. Exporters are used to adding another rice variety with similar features to Basmati with their rice stocks." he said. The Minister also said that the high quality Basmati rice carries aroma, nutritional value, exceptional taste and extra long slender edgy shaped grains.

Importing low quality rice is a huge injustice for the local farmers and consumers. "Ministry officials together with Sri Lanka Customs personnel have been trained to investigate into this matter to avoid low quality Basmati rice being imported to the country, Minister Abeywardane said.