Impact assessment of Basmati varieties released by SKUAST Jammu

Rice is the one of the most important food crop of India and second in the world. It feeds more than 50% of world population. Rice is grown in almost all the states in the country. Basmati rice, indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and endowed with unique quality traits are palatal delights of the rice connoisseur world over. Basmati is known as queen of rice. These virtues of Basmati rice command them premium price in domestic and international markets. Basmati is preferred by consumers all over the world due to its flavour and palatability. As regards, Jammu and Kashmir it plays an important role in the livelihood of people of this hilly and sub-mountainous region. Jammu district is mainly comprised of sub-tropical regions and one of which is considered unique to the district is the Basmati rice. Thus, the cultivation of Basmati rice offers a great potential. Basmati rice has occupied a prominent place in Ranbir Singh Pura (R. S. Pura) area of Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir not only because of their high quality but also that they had been considered auspicious. More-ever, lower sub-tropical part of Jammu region falls inside geographical indicator (GI) area of basmati where number of traditional Basmati land races are being cultivated.