Farmers call for protecting Basmati rice
In the short term, the government will push for export of basmati rice, horticulture, meat and meat products as well as jewellery to target markets in Iran, China, Europe and Afghanistan. PHOTO: FILE
The SME Farmers Association of Pakistan (SMEFA) has urged the institutions concerned to take prompt measures for the protection and promotion of Basmati rice in and outside of Pakistan and also at all international forums without wasting time.
During a meeting, SMEFA Chairman Haji Muhammad Saeed said, “Basmati rice is our heritage and indeed a gift. It is a well-known fact that our basmati rice fully qualifies and deserves the geographical indication (GI) tag, and the trademark of basmati belongs to Pakistan.
He urged the ministries of agriculture, commerce and Intellectual Property Organisatio, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda), Trade Mark’s Registry, rice exporters, growers, millers and processors to join hands with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) for protecting and promoting the Basmati rice and make sure rights to its ownership and GI tag were not infringed upon.
Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) President Zulfikar Thaver endorsed views of SME farmers and growers of Basmati rice and assured them on behalf of the institutions that efforts would be made to protect Basmati rice at all cost.
Thaver urged the farmers to grow more Basmati rice and exporters to promote it more. He also requested commercial attaches overseas to promote Basmati and arrange festivals across the world to highlight that Pakistan’s Basmati was the best aromatic rice in the world.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2020.
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