Growth and Instability in Production of Basmati Rice in India

Basmati rice is a breakthrough cereal crop with distinct characteristics like long grain, superior aroma and unique flavour. Basmati rice is also stated to be the Pearl of Rice. India accounts for over 70% of the world's basmati rice production. So the present study was undertaken with the aim to assess the growth and instability in the area, production and productivity of Basmati rice in India. The secondary data on area, production and productivity of basmati rice were collected for a period of 20 years from 2000 to 2019. The growth performance in production was analysed by using exponential method and instability for the same was worked out of using Coefficient of Variation and Coppock’s Instability Index (CII). The study period was further divided into two sub periods and overall period. The compound growth rate analysis showed that during the overall period, area, production and productivity witnessed a positive and statistically significant growth rate at one per cent level of significance. Production witnessed highest positive growth rate followed by area and productivity. Instability analysis suggested that period I was the most unstable period under study. Coppock’s Instability analysis revealed that during the overall period, variation was highest in production, followed by area and least variation was observed in productivity. The study concluded that efforts must be taken up by the farmers, traders and government to enhance the production and productivity of basmati rice and also explore the possibility of expansion of area under basmati rice cultivation.