‘India earned Rs 18,000 cr every year through Basmati exports’

New Delhi: India has earned over Rs 18,000 in foreign exchange every year from export of Pusa basmati 1121 rice variety, developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Monday.

“The Pusa basmati 1121 variety of Basmati rice developed by ICAR has helped India earn more than Rs 18,000 crore in foreign exchange every year. During 2010-14, India earned Rs 62,800 crore in foreign exchange from exports, which rose to Rs 71,900 crore in 2014-18,” Singh said at the 90th Foundation Day ceremony of the ICAR here, as per a release.

He also said the country was also moving forward in pulses production and with around 23 million tonnes of pulses production this year, it had reached close to self-sufficiency.

“Due to this, the import of pulses has gone down from 10 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 to 5.65 lakh tonnes in 2017-18, saving the country Rs 9,775 crore in foreign exchange,” he said.

He also said foodgrain production has touched 275.68 million tonnes in 2017-18, which is 10.64 million tonnes more than 265.04 million tonnes recorded in 2013-14.

IANS