Basmati rate picks up in off-season

Though the wheat crop has started arriving in the grain markets of the district, Basmati, which was harvested in October last year, is not completely out of the market.

Though the wheat crop has started arriving in the grain markets of the district, Basmati, which was harvested in October last year, is not completely out of the market.

A section of farmers, who had decided not to sell their produce earlier, are not regretting the decision. A quintal of basmati fetched as high as Rs 3,700 on Friday against last year's Rs 2,500 when the season was at peak.

Hardev Singh, a farmer from Kalyan village near Nathana of Bathinda district, sold his basmati produce at a rate of Rs 3,700 per quintal. “I did not store the produce intentionally. I couldn't bring the produce to the market due to some other reasons,” he said.