NEW DELHI, Jul 21 (NNN-PTI) – The Indian government, yesterday announced a ban on exports of a particular variety of white rice, to ensure its adequate availability and allay price rise in the domestic market.
According to an official statement, issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the ban on exports of non-basmati white rice would immediately come into force.
“The domestic prices of rice are on an increasing trend. The retail prices have increased by 11.5 percent over a year and three percent over the past month,” said the statement.
An export duty of 20 percent on the rice was imposed in Sept, 2022, to ensure its availability in the domestic market. However, the export of this variety increased after the imposition of the export duty.
Exports of this variety of white rice increased during Apr-Jun, the first quarter of the current financial year, by as much as 35 percent.
“This sharp increase in exports can be ascribed to high international prices, due to geo-political scenario, El Nino sentiments and extreme climatic conditions, in other rice-producing countries,” said the ministry’s statement.
Non-basmati white rice constitutes about 25 percent of India’s total rice exports.– NNN-PTI
