SKUAST-K develops aromatic rice variety for Kashmir Valley farmers

SKUAST-K’s Shalimar Sugandh (Kashur Basmat) is a fine-grain aromatic rice variety developed for Kashmir, with trial yields of 8–8.5 tonnes per hectare. Certified seed was distributed in 2024; milled rice has reportedly fetched ₹8,000–₹9,000 per quintal.

— Source publishedWed, 9 Sept, 2026, 15:18 IST·First seen Wed, 9 Sept, 2026, 15:20 IST·Source BL · Consumer & Economy

What happened

SKUAST-K has developed Shalimar Sugandh, an aromatic fine-grain rice for Kashmir Valley farmers. The variety delivered 8–8.5 tonnes per hectare in trials and

Key facts

  • Development began in 2021
  • Certified seed distributed in 2024
  • Yield: 8 to 8.5 tonnes per hectare
  • Farmer sale price after milling: ₹8,000 to ₹9,000 per quintal
  • Jammu and Kashmir Basmati area: 46.13 thousand hectares
  • Samba Basmati area: 2.93 thousand hectares
  • Kathua Basmati area: 6.48 thousand hectares

Why this matters

Rice brands, millers and agrifood buyers could explore a differentiated Kashmir-origin aromatic rice proposition through seed, procurement and market-development partnerships.

What to watch

  • 2025-26 certified-seed production volumes, distribution footprint and repeat farmer uptake.
  • Commercial rather than trial yield results across Kashmir Valley districts.
  • Farm-gate paddy prices and sustained milled-rice realization versus established aromatic and basmati alternatives.
  • Evidence of dedicated milling, storage, grading and traceability capacity.
  • Retail repeat purchase, chef/hospitality adoption and willingness to pay for Kashmir-origin branding.
  • Any formal quality certification, geographic-origin protection or disputes over the 'Kashur Basmat' positioning.
  • Secure multi-year seed multiplication and farmer-training partnerships before competing buyers lock in acreage.
  • Build village-level aggregation, moisture testing, identity preservation and small-batch milling to protect aroma and premium grain quality.
  • Test a traceable 'Kashur Basmat' retail proposition in Kashmir tourism channels, premium grocers and e-commerce before committing to national distribution.
  • Develop clear origin, varietal and quality claims; avoid using protected-origin or basmati-equivalence language unless legally substantiated.
  • Create procurement contracts with a quality-linked premium so farmers have confidence to shift acreage and buyers receive consistent specifications.

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