Piracy of Indian Basmati Varieties by Pakistan Proven, Confirmed by DNA Test

Basmati varieties developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi (Pusa Institute), are being pirated and grown by Pakistan. This allegation has also been proven in international lab tests. Pakistan is illegally cultivating and exporting basmati rice from Indian varieties such as Pusa Basmati 1509, 1121, 1847, and 1885. The Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) of India had laboratory tests conducted on samples of basmati varieties grown by Pakistan, which confirmed that they are Indian varieties. These tests were conducted in European as well as Indian laboratories.

According to sources, DNA testing in a prestigious European lab has proven that Pakistan is illegally growing and exporting Indian basmati varieties by modifying their titles. There is a defined protocol for testing basmati, under which this test was conducted. This protocol is called the Ring Trial, which includes 11 laboratories worldwide. One of these laboratories is located in Hyderabad, India. In this type of testing, the same sample is sent to different laboratories. All labs share data and coding. This investigation has proven that Pakistan is growing Indian basmati varieties.

APEDA has also created a process to authenticate basmati. Under this, there is a DNA testing facility at the Basmati Export Development Foundation in Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh. These samples have also been tested in this lab.

All data related to the investigation of basmati varieties grown in Pakistan is now with the government, and the information is at the highest level in the government. To move forward in this matter, the Indian government will attempt to stop Pakistan from growing these varieties by filing a case in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) under the TRIPS Agreement. Additionally, cases can be filed under international rules in countries where Pakistan is exporting rice of these varieties to stop their sale. No information has been revealed yet on when the Indian government will take this matter to the international forum.

Piracy of Indian Basmati in Pakistan

India exports basmati worth approximately ₹50,000 crore annually. Basmati rice comes in the premium category in the global market, and its price is up to twice that of normal rice varieties. There is competition between Pakistan and India in the basmati market in Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle Eastern countries in the Gulf. While India has continuously developed varieties with better productivity and quality through research on basmati, Pakistan has not worked at this level. This is the reason why Pakistan is illegally growing Indian basmati paddy varieties through piracy, which is harming India's basmati business.

Apart from old Indian basmati varieties, Pakistan also illegally cultivates newly released varieties like Pusa Basmati 1847 and Pusa Basmati 1885. This matter came to light about a year and a half ago, and since then, Indian agencies have become active. Now that DNA testing has proven that Pakistan is producing Indian varieties, it can help in stopping its exports. There is a possibility that efforts to complain and resolve this matter in the international forum will intensify.

Basmati Region Defined Under GI

Varieties developed in India are notified under the Seed Act, 1966 and the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001. Under these laws, only Indian farmers can sow these seeds. But Indian basmati varieties are being grown extensively in Pakistan.

Under the Geographical Indication (GI) granted to basmati by the Indian authority, basmati is grown in seven states. Basmati is grown in six lakh hectares in Punjab and about six lakh hectares in Haryana. Apart from this, there is a possibility of bringing about five lakh hectares in western Uttar Pradesh under basmati. Apart from these, basmati cultivation in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir also comes under GI.