Aromatic Basmati Rice Varieties, Area, Production, and Cultivation Practices

Rice is mainly cultivated under two main categories, fragrant and non-fragrant and in the case of fragrant rice, India dominates the trade among its Basmati rice followed by Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and so on. This chapter deals with aromatic Basmati rice cultivation, its area, and production in major Basmati growing—78 districts in 6 states of India. A brief account of major aromatic Basmati varieties in India and their area, production and productivity, cultivation practices, and Basmati rice crop phenology is discussed. In Pakistan aromatic Basmati varieties are cultivated mainly in the area between the Ravi and Chenab Rivers and major districts cultivating aromatic Basmati rice; their area and production has been summarised.