The price of aged Basmati rice (Often sold by the well known wholesalers like Daawat, Indiagate, Lalmahal etc) is quiet higher (3 to 4 times) than the freshly harvested rice in the Indian market, as natural ageing enhance and intensify its taste, aroma, and cooking characteristics.
So should we recommend farmers to keep a part of their produce, and sell it later for getting higher value ?
& what are the ways to store these grains for long term at farmer's place without their quality being deteriorated?
Since the price of stored rice is 3 to 4 times higher than the newly harvested rice, the farmers will be better off keeping part of their produce and selling it later for a higher value. However in order to maintain a minimum price that will encourage the farmers to continue to produce rice, the government should set a guarantee minimum price of rice in the country thereby buying newly harvestef rice from the farmers at a reasonable price, then storing it in the national grain reserve. When the rice is matured in the storage, the government will add the storage fee and sell at that higher price. Intact the government should provide the enabling environment especially to the small farmers to keep them in businesse
Thanks for the suggestion Samuel Mesike
Well, Government of India do have Minimum Support Price for 25 crops in India. It includes the Non-Scented Rice, but it does not cover Basmati Rice.
Natural ageing does not have much effect on non-scented rice but it surely improves the cooking quality of Basmati Rice, that is why these marketing companies who still acts as the middlemen are fetching benefits, selling the produce after processing and packing at around more than 3 times the price what farmers gets.
I do not think that processing and packaging cost is just double the base price of any Basmati rice variety, which is unjust with the farmers who wait for the whole season to get the right price of his produce.
Although i am not sure, whether the farmers are even acquainted with the fact that older rice should get more price.
As per our experience during 2017, our fresh basmari rice was sold @ Rs 2300-3200 per quintal while data regarding export of indian aged basmati rice during 2016 shows market price from 4800-7200 per quintal. From data, it can be concluded that aged basmati rice may have two times higher market price as compared to fresh basmati rice.
The farmer needs to age the rice under suitable conditions of moisture and protection from infestation. If these are done, farmers who have the holding capacity (in terms of money) can benefit substantially.
Respected Dr Saab Manpreet Jaidka
I think we are well aware of these facts and figures,
& also knowing that rice-wheat cropping system is deeply rooted in the mindsets of farmers of both Haryana and Punjab as this crop rotation covers exceptionally extensive geographical area of both states.
But my main concern was that, what our universities should recommend to the farmers regarding this, so that a considerable portion goes into the pockets of farmers, rather than some other stakeholders who just sit in their Air Conditioned premises whole day, stealing the shares of farmers.
Aged rice calls for higher prices because of its aroma and taste compared to freshly harvested rice. But it should be stored under suitable conditions
Specifically, it is because
when cooked, new rice grains are sticky, because of their higher moisture content at harvest (generally around 14-15%)
So they aren't fully dried yet compared to older ones. So freshly harvested rice grains absorb less water while cooking.
But aged rice grains cook out beautifully where each grain is non-sticky and separate.
Also as they can absorb more water, they get longer too. This gives good bite while eating and also dish looks better aesthetically.
Indians prefer their rice non-sticky. Chinese prefer sticky rice due to chopsticks culture.
So the price of aged Basmati rice is quiet higher in Indian Cuisines.
Hope you find it more relevant Jovan Kyambadde
Haji Saediman Sir
Surely, the price of any commodity depends on the supply and demand relationship. So if the damand for fresh rice is more there, then the price of fresh rice will probably be higher in the Indonesian Markets then.
Abhilash Singh Chauhan i think basmati is not included in MSP.
yes farmers can store the prodcue for a minimum of 6 months so that they get best price and good quality. if the produce gets too aged before reaching the consumer, tha aroma quality gets declined.
Ananya Baidya, It was there in the previous answers that no Minimum Support Price as decided each year by Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, is there for Basmati Rice.
And the private firms that export the Basmati Rice or selling it at higher prices in Indian markets only, generally age it for a minimum of two years.
But Keeping the produce in Bulk for a period of 24 months is quite arduous for farmers,
Also if there is no MSP, then there is not any surety that the Farmer would get the same price at which other firms with their renowned Tags and Brands are selling the same product.
And the aging process does not declines, rather it intensifies the aromatic and cooking qualities of Basmati rice, that's why it has higher value in the market.
The whole point of discussion was that, what can be done for the farmers so that such companies, which are just playing the middlemen from producer to consumer while selling their product at a rate ranging from ₹ 220 to 250 per kg, around 5-6 times higher than what the farmer gets when he dispose off his produce to the mandi/market can be wiped out of this markeeting system so that farmer can fetch a real value for his product.
https://www.amazon.in/Kohinoor-Supreme-Authentic-Aged-Basmati/dp/B07J4VX2X2
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