Dec 18- Department of Agricultural Economics, Ch. Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar has issued price forecast of Potato and Basmati Rice While stating this today, a spokesman of the university said that keeping in view the price trend, opinion survey of the traders and the analysis of last 10-12 years prices, it is expected that the price of potato during the month of December, 2012 will be Rs. 500-600 per quintal due to marriages. He said that it may show a decline in the month of January 2013 to Rs. 450-500 per quintal due to fresh crop arrival and the prices may decline to the level of Rs. 350-400 in the month of February 2013. Thus, farmers may take decision accordingly to sell their stored stock and to sell their potato in the coming season.
He said that during 2012-13, the area under basmati rice has exceeded by 60 per cent of the total area under rice mainly due to inclusion of PUSA 1121 under the category of basmati. He said that it is estimated that about 7.50 lakh hectares were covered under basmati rice out of about 12 lakh hectares. Basmati rice exports topped largely because of bumper local harvest and strong demand from Gulf countries, particularly for the newly classified PUSA 1121 variety.
He said that Haryana is contributing about 60 per cent to total basmati export from India. Keeping in view the price trend, opinion survey of the traders, expected good harvest of the crop in the state as well as expected rise in export of basmati rice. He said that after the analysis of last 12 years prices, it is expected that the price of Basmati Rice during the month of December, 2012 would be Rs 2500-3000 per quintal and in the month of January -February, 2013 the price may increase upto Rs. 3050 to Rs. 3200 per quintal. However, the price trend of basmati rice would also depend on the export – import policies and global market scenario. Thus, farmers may take decision accordingly to sell their produce, he added.