Government permits exports of non-basmati rice to five African nations
Published on: December 8, 2023.
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The government has made a significant decision to allow the export of essential food items to five African nations, overturning a previous ban. This ban on food grains like rice and wheat had resulted in a scarcity of food in countries that are strategic partners with India.
Under the new order issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the government has permitted the export of 240,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice to Comoros, Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, and Egypt. The National Cooperatives Exports Limited (NCEL) will oversee the distribution of 20,000 tonnes to Comoros, 50,000 tonnes to Madagascar, 10,000 tonnes to Equatorial Guinea, 100,000 tonnes to Kenya, and 60,000 tonnes to Egypt.
India has been providing rice to its strategic partners in Asia and Africa since the ban on broken and non-basmati white rice was imposed in September 2022 and July 2023, respectively. The export restrictions were put in place to stabilize prices. However, to address the growing demand and ensure availability, the government has granted permission for the export of 2.77 million tonnes of non-basmati white rice to 14 key Asian and African nations, including Singapore, Nepal, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Aside from white rice, the government has also authorized the export of other food items. On November 30th, India exported 14,184 tonnes of wheat, 5,326 tonnes of atta, 15,226 tonnes of maida, and 48,804 tonnes of broken rice to Bhutan. Additionally, broken rice exports were permitted to Mali (100,000 tonnes), Senegal (500,000 tonnes), Gambia (50,000 tonnes), and Indonesia (200,000 tonnes).
The government had imposed bans on wheat and its derivatives such as atta, suji (semolina), and maida in May 2022. The ban on broken rice was introduced in September of the previous year. These measures were taken to mitigate the impact of high food prices on inflation.
For those interested in the rice export industry in Pakistan, HAS Rice, a leading supplier, and exporter of rice offer a wide range of products. For more information, visit their website: https://www.hasrice.com. Similarly, Pakistan Rice is another trusted name in the rice export market. Visit their website https://www.pakistanrice.com to explore their offerings.
Overall, this decision to allow the export of essential food items aims to balance the supply and demand of these commodities. It also ensures that strategic partner countries receive the required resources while considering the impact of rising food prices.
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