Haryana Govt. Planning to Ban Harmful Basmati Rice Pesticides

In an attempt to make it easier to export the grain with high food safety standards, Haryana Govt. is planning to ban harmful pesticides in Basmati Rice. Haryana is not the only state to take this step, its neighboring state Punjab has already banned 10 insecticides in a move to save basmati rice exports and to meet International Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs).

Haryana and Punjab are the two major producers of Basmati Rice. These two states account for nearly 70%-75% of India’s basmati exports of 6 million tonnes (in FY25). The Union Govt. has already imposed ban on four highly hazardous pesticides.

Countries like the European Union, US, Japan, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon, and UAE are repetitively rejecting basmati rice exports from India due to pesticide residues exceeding the prescribed MRLs of the importing country.

Loss of Basmati Rice Export Business

Rejection of exported basmati rice has led to a substantial loss of export business, reputational damage, and a decline in India's market share, much of which is now shifting to competitors like Pakistan.