Pakistan exported rice worth $2.5 billion last year: Minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFSR) Syed Fakhar Imam has said the quality of Pakistan’s rice is acceptable globally.

The minister was attending a webinar on Sustainable Rice Production for Boosting Rice Export of Pakistan. He said that Pakistan produced 7.2 million tonnes of rice last year and exported rice products worth $2.5 billion.

He mentioned there is 3.1 percent contribution of rice in value addition and 0.6 percent in GDP, while there is a need to invest in the rice industry.

The federal minister that rice is Pakistan’s third-largest crop in terms of area sown after wheat and cotton. About 11 percent of Pakistan’s total agricultural area is under rice during the summer or Kharif season.

Pakistan is a leading producer and exporter of basmati and irri rice (white long grain rice). Rice ranks second among the staple food grain crops in Pakistan and exports are a major source of foreign exchange earnings.

Pakistan grows a relatively high quality of rice to fulfill domestic and export demand. Punjab and Sindh account for more than 88 percent of total rice production.

Punjab produces the majority share of basmati rice in the country due to its agro-climatic and soil conditions. The Kalar bowl area, a local term referring to a type of soil suitable for basmati production, is famous for producing basmati rice and is located between the Ravi and Chenab rivers in Punjab.