Basmati prices escalate in Haryana as market widens
Hindustan Times: The prices of the traditional basmati varieties of paddy in Haryana have registered a hike for the first time in several years, reaching over ₹ 6,000 per quintal, mainly due to the government agency HAFED foraying into the market and breaking the monopoly of private traders. Basmati prices escalate in Haryana as market widens With the harvesting of the traditional basmati sowing belts of the state on the last leg, the premium basmati varieties including PB 30 is being sold above ₹ 6,000 per quintal, while the other two varieties of Pusa 1121 and Pusa 1718 were also getting around ₹ 4,000 per quintal. Now, the prices have gone around ₹ 6,000 per quintal for the first time in the past several years,” said commission agent Mahinder Singh of Karnal’s Nilokheri grain market. Moreover, growers of the aromatic long-grain basmati rice earn around ₹ 10,000 per acre extra from the crop waste as they said that paddy straw is used as cattle fodder.