Pakistan''s rice export exceeds $2.5 billion mark

The rice export of Pakistan has exceeded 2.5 billion dollars that is 88 percent more than the last year export in monetary terms while it is being estimated that the export figure may touch 3 billion dollars. Well-placed sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that 3.5 million tons rice has been exported so far.
"Out of 3.5 million tons; 2.2 million tons are long grain rice while 1.3 million tons Basmati has been exported." Sources said, "The export of commodity is still going on and Pakistan is likely to earn 3 billion dollars from the export." Sources said that during the corresponding period last year, rice export earned 1.8 billion dollars while the total rice export was worth 2.2 billion dollars last year."
Chairman Agri-forum, Ibrahim Mughal told this scribe that the rice crop is cultivated on 6 million acres. "The country has produced 7 million tons of rice from 6 million acres of land three years ago but now per acre yield has reduced. The government should plan an effective policy to enhance per acre yield of the crop that may result in the production of 8-9 million tons.
He said that per acre yield of rice in Pakistan is 26-27 mounds while in the neighbouring countries like China and India, the production is 40-50 mounds per acre. The chairman said, "Pakistan may earn an additional amount of 6-7 billion dollars if the per acre yield of rice is increased." Pakistan has produced 5.9 million tons rice this year against the estimated target of 6.8 million tons.
Ibrahim Mughal said that Pakistan can export huge quantity of Basmati rice to countries including Iran and Afghanistan as they are keen to meet their demand and also replenish their stocks, but for this purpose, sincere efforts on the part of the government are needed. Other major consumers of Basmati rice are the oil rich states of Gulf and Middle East and we can increase our rice export to these countries, sources added.
He stressed that the Basmati rice of Pakistan is the world''s best rice. He said that there was an urgent need of government''s involvement in exploring and opening up of Malaysian and Indonesian markets, which normally prefer to import huge quantity of rice from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states.