ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (INP-WealthPK): The government should take steps to expand the cultivation areas of Basmati rice with a view to further increasing its exports. “Immediate measures should be taken to streamline the rice sector. The government should ensure provision of rice harvesters to the growers at subsidised rates,” demands Ali Hussam Asghar, chairman of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP). In a media statement, he says last year, Pakistan exported more than 3.6 million tons of rice, including 700,000 tons of Basmati and 2.9 million tons of non-Basmati rice. "In August this year, we have exported rice worth $280 million." Mr Hussam says the association is striving to grow more Basmati rice to strengthen the country's economy with improved exports of it.  “Pakistani’s rice exports increased from 150,000 tons to 300,000 tons,” he says, stressing an enhanced industry-academia linkage for improving seed quality and increasing production. “REAP has announced Rs10 million cash prize for an anyone (researcher, breeder), who will provide us with a new variety of long grain.” Meanwhile, former REAP chairman Shehzad Ali Malik says it is a cause for concern that growers have started cultivating non-Basmati rice in the cultivation areas of Basmati rice. “If cultivation of non-Basmati rice is not stopped in the area where Basmati is grown then Basmati will become scarce.” Mr Malik says China has supported them a lot in production of hybrid rice.