Centre bans export of non-basmati white rice to boost domestic supply

NEWDELHI:TheCentreonThursdaybannedtheexport of non-basmati white rice with immediate effect to boost domesticsupplyandhelpcontrolinflation.

Non-basmati white rice accounts for nearly 25-30 per cent of total rice exported from the country. The total exports of non-basmati white rice from India was $4.2 million in 2022-23, as against $2.62 million in the preceding year. Major destinations of India's non-basmati white rice exports include Thailand,Italy,Spain,SriLankaandtheUSA.

Volume wise, India exported 6.5 million tonnes of this varietyinFY23,comparedto5.3milliontonnesintheprevious financialyear(ariseofnearly22percent).

The ban comes at a time when rice prices as per an official statement have increased by over 11.5 per cent over a year andthreepercentinthepastmonth.

Concerns over rice production in the kharif season due to inadequate rainfall in the major growing states of Bihar (-40 percent cumulative deficit), Jharkhand (-44 per cent deficit), Odisha (-15 per cent deficit) and excess rains in other major states like Punjab (+52 per cent) and Haryana (+65 per cent), have played a part in the Government’sdecision.