Srinagar, Nov 4: Kashmir’s iconic Geographical Indication (GI) tagged, Mushq Budji rice featured at an International Rice Trade Event held recently at New Delhi alongside, the premium quality traditional aromatic rice types such as Kalanamak, Gobindobhog,Jeerakasala,Chakhao, Katarni from India and Khao tai etc., from other countries.  In a leap towards Global markets — SKUAST-K initiated the launch of a field-to-export value-chain pilot for the high-aroma rice landrace Mushq Budji, in collaboration with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Deptt. of Agriculture, J&K and IRRI, Philippines/ India and with the active participation  of the Farmers Producer Organization (FPO) named, “Mushq Budji Rice Farmers Producer Company Limited”. The FPO, that was facilitated through joint collaboration of NABARD, Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, J&K and SKUAST-Kashmir, has enabled the creation of robust value chains: from seed production and modern milling units to branding and export promotion. May be reminded that Mushq Budji rice of Kashmir was granted  the prestigious  GI Tag in the year 2023, officially recognizing its unique regional identity, exceptional aroma, and heritage value linked to the agro-ecological niche of the Valley.

Under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, a long term strategy has been formulated integrating SKUAST-K research initiatives, production up-scaling from Department of Agriculture and APEDA’s market intelligence and export facilitation frameworks, shall work on the expansion of Mushq Budji cultivation, seed renewal and foreign trade. Prof. Haroon R. Naik, Director Research, SKUAST-K, underscored the importance of developing a robust promotional framework to position this high-value commodity in International markets. Accordingly, an expert group comprising of Dr. Shabir A. Wani, Professor, Agri-Economics and Business Management; Dr. Najeeb R. Sofi, ADR, MRCFC, Khudwani; Dr. Asif Bashir Shikari, Professor- Genetics & Plant Breeding, SKUAST-K and Mr. Chowdhury M. Iqbal, CEO SKUAST-K Seeds Company Ltd., was nominated to oversee the implementation of the program. The group members and the officers from APEDA held the meeting in New Delhi on the sidelines of ‘The Bharat International Rice Conference 2025 (BIRC 2025), 30-31, October 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi’. Each grain tells a story of tradition, terroir and taste; celebrated for their unique aroma, taste, and legacy. During the event Mushq Budji was showcased for its culinary value, where its distinctive aroma, texture, and cooking quality drew wide appreciation from chefs, food connoisseurs, and International delegates alike. The delegates from ~80 countries witnessed the diversity in richness of value in the featured rice products. Also, the Basmati varieties from Jammu region were a part of the trade basket. Discussions were held on SKUAST-K’s work on seed systems, MAS derived Mushq Budji lines with improved blast resistance towards certification of “export-ready” genetic stock with well-structured support for packaging, export compliance, grading, and logistics, enabling the aromatic rice to meet stringent global quality benchmarks. Interactions with the partners from International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines, opened avenues for collaboration and global catalogue inclusion. University also networked with private exporters expressing interest in sourcing GI-certified Mushq Budji for export and trade. The representatives from FPO were felicitated during the event for their pivotal role in strengthening the local-to-global value chain. The initiative symbolizes the convergence of scientific innovation, institutional collaboration, and farmer empowerment—from seed to export.