New Delhi: Basmati rice of India is famous all over the world. Basmati rice is grown from Kashmir to South India. Rice is produced in different colors, flavors, and sizes of short, medium, and long grains. Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave some gifts to President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden during their US visit. Basmati rice from Uttarakhand is also included in these gifts. Let us know what is special about the Basmati rice of Uttarakhand.
Rice production in India
In India, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and parts of West Bengal are known for basmati rice production. Basmati rice has high carbohydrate content. India alone supplies 65% of basmati rice to the world.
Why is the basmati rice of Uttarakhand famous?
Basmati rice of Uttarakhand is famous for its aroma and taste. This rice came to India from the Kunar province of Afghanistan in the 19th century. The king of Afghanistan was elected by the British. He lived in Dehradun. So this rice was included in their daily diet. The production of this rice is believed to have started in this region.
After the First Anglo-Afghan War in 1840, the British conquered Ghazni and Dost Mohammad Khan. In 1842, Dost Muhammad Khan recaptured his kingdom. But after the Second Anglo-Afghan War, Dost Mohammad Khan managed to get out of Afghanistan.
Basmati rice of Dehradun came from Afghanistan
Dost Mohammad came to Dehradun in 1879. He was very fond of Basmati Pulav. He brought basmati rice from Afghanistan to the Doon Valley of Dehradun. This improved the quality of the local rice. The rice of Dehradun of Uttarakhand is not found anywhere else in the world. This is the reason why it is likely to disappear soon. With this in view, the Government of Uttarakhand is engaged in saving this basmati.
