(a) whether United States of America (USA) is India`s biggest competitor in the export of Basmati Rice to Iraq;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the USA is putting undue pressure on Iraq to procure rice from them instead of India;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the reaction of the Government thereto alongwith the action taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a & b) As per the statistics of Bureau of Census, United States of America (USA) does not export basmati rice to Iraq.
Basmati rice is produced only in a designated geographical area under the foothills of Himalaya encompassing the states
of Punjab (on either side of Indo-Pak Border), Haryana, Uttarakhand, Western Uttar Pradesh (26 districts) and two districts
of J&K viz Jammu and Kathua.
(c & d) The Government is not aware of such efforts by USA.
(e) Does not arise.