India’s basmati rice exports are likely to top 2 million tonnes (MT) in the current marketing year ending September 30, boosted by high demand from Iran and inclusion of Pusa-1121 in the premium rice category, industry officials said today.Tilda Riceland Director RS Sehadri said, according to customs data, India exported record 1.8 MT basmati rice in the financial year ended March.“I think exports will grow by at least 10 per cent this year.

We could see basmati exports at 2-2.1 MT this year,” he said. Seshadri said last year’s growth in basmati exports was primarily due to the inclusion of Pusa-1121 in the basmati rice category.