Basmati GI tag war: MP CM ‘condemns’ Amarinder’s letter to PM Modi

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 6

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday “condemned” Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Madhya Pradesh’ efforts to get a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its “famous Basmati rice”, terming the move “inspired by politics”.

“I condemn the letter written to the Prime Minister by the Congress government of Punjab in the matter of GI tagging of Basmati rice of Madhya Pradesh and consider it politically inspired.

“I wish to question the Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, as to what hostility he has with the farmers of Madhya Pradesh. It is not a matter of Madhya Pradesh or Punjab, it is a matter of farmers of the entire country and their livelihood,” an official statement said, quoting Chouhan.

Referring to the historical connection of Basmati rice of Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan recently urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant a GI status to the state’s Basmati rice “to encourage farmers and Basmati rice based industries”.

According to Madhya Pradesh officials, amidst Chouhan’s efforts to get GI tag for the famous basmati rice exported by the State, the Chief Minister of Punjab wrote a letter to Prime Minister yesterday, seeking his intervention in this regard.

In his letter, Singh said it would affect the interests of Punjab and other states whose Basmati rice already has a ‘GI tag’.

Singh also said Pakistan could also benefit if this happens, as per MP officials. 

However, according to Chouhan, “The case of Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) with Pakistan has no connection with the claims of Madhya Pradesh.

“Because it comes under the GI Act of India and has no connection with the claims of Basmati rice within the country. Exporters of Punjab and Haryana are buying Basmati from Madhya Pradesh.

“The central government’s export data confirms this. The Central government has been supplying ‘breeder seed’ of basmati rice to Madhya Pradesh since the year 1999,” he said.

Chouhan said it is recorded in the then ‘Scindia State’ records that in the year 1944, seeds were supplied to the farmers of the state.

The Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, has recorded in its ‘Production Oriented Survey Report’ that Basmati rice is being produced in Madhya Pradesh since the last 25 years, Chouhan said,  adding that GI tagging to Madhya Pradesh will stabilise the prices of India’s basmati rice in the international markets and boost the country’s export.

“Basmati is being produced in 13 districts of Madhya Pradesh since the year 1908 and has been registered in history. Basmati rice of Madhya Pradesh is considered very tasty and is famous both in the country and abroad for its flavours and fragrance,” he said, adding that IIRR, Hyderabad, and other specialist institutions have confirmed reports in connection with the traditional cultivation of basmati in Madhya Pradesh.

Chouhan has sought a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for ‘Basmati’ rice produced in his state.

A GI tag is an indication used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to the origin. The tag conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness and plays a major role in trade, improving its prospects. 

Geographical indications are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.