In light of the recent challenges due to food safety, it might have been more appropriate to wait a month or two before kicking off the celebrations over the blazing glory of our rice exports. Just last month, industry leaders were giddily tooting the horn of exports about to touch the magical six-tonne mark.
A bumper crop, supported by a contracted Indian supply, meant Pakistani rice had once again become a hot favourite in the international market, earning $3.4 billion in foreign exchange in FY 2023-24. However, we may have won the Basmati battle this season and all seems well for now but the country is yet to rise above the shortcomings when it comes to the safety of its food crop. European Union, one of the most sought-after markets, raised repeated alerts on the presence of pesticide residues in consignments last year.
Time and again, experts have cautioned how these pesticides would ultimately result in a blanket ban on Pakistan’s rice exports because of troubling noncompliance with EU export standards. That a soaked-in-extremely-dangerous-chemicals rice paddy is not suitable for human consumption even in the local market does not need to be said out loud.
Nevertheless, in countries that prioritise the health and lives of their masses, it would only be a matter of time before these risky shipments close the doors for everyone altogether. Before fighting off Indian attempts to claim the Basmati brand, which, in turn, would eat up Pakistan’s share in the market, there is an urgent need to consider why our shipments are triggering more alerts than those from India this year. As a leading producer of rice in the world (ninth), Pakistan has always relied on its exports to boost its economy.
Sadly, if the current situation is allowed to intensify any further, it seems like this valuable source of income is under threat. With the right policies and strategies in place, we can still secure the sustainability of our produce. But that requires arduous efforts and a will to go beyond isolated seminars. An urgent crackdown against agrochemicals (not approved for rice crops) and a widespread awareness drive to discourage the farmers from dousing higher concentrations of pesticides might prove to be a great start. Perhaps, Islamabad could get inspired by the Indian Punjab’s line of action against as many as 10 pesticides to abide by the residue limit. *
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