India Expands Non-Basmati Rice Exports to 7 More Countries
Published on: October 19, 2023.
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India Lifts Ban on Export of Non-Basmati White Rice to Several Countries
In a welcome move, India has decided to allow the export of non-basmati white rice to several countries, including Nepal, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Republic of Guinea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Seychelles. This decision comes after the export of non-basmati white rice was prohibited in July to control domestic prices and ensure food security within the country.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, in its notification on October 18, stated that the exports will be facilitated through the National Cooperative Exports Limited. Previously, India had also permitted the export of non-basmati white rice to the UAE and Singapore.
The amendment in the export policy clarifies that the export of non-basmati white rice will be allowed based on the government’s permission granted to other countries to meet their food security requirements, along with the request from their respective governments. It is worth noting that Benin, a West African country, is one of the major importers of non-basmati rice from India. Additionally, countries such as UAE, Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Guinea, Vietnam, Djibouti, Madagascar, Cameroon, Somalia, Malaysia, and Liberia are also significant destination countries for Indian rice.
To further safeguard the domestic market, India had introduced a minimum floor price on basmati rice exports in late August. This measure aimed to prevent the export of non-basmati white rice, which had already been classified as prohibited since July.
In a related development, the Union Government recently extended the 20% export duty on parboiled rice until March 31, 2024. Parboiled rice refers to rice that has been partially boiled with its husk. The initial introduction of this duty took place on August 25, 2023, and was set to expire on October 16, 2023. The decision was made to ensure sufficient domestic availability of rice and regulate its price.
It is worth mentioning that India had banned the export of broken rice in September 2022 and imposed a 20% duty on non-basmati rice exports (excluding parboiled rice) due to concerns about low production caused by a decline in the area under the paddy crop. However, this ban was later lifted in November.
Overall, India’s decision to lift the ban on the export of non-basmati white rice to various countries signifies a positive step towards boosting trade and meeting the food security demands of partner nations.
Source: [Organiser](https://organiser.org)
