The Tamil diaspora community on Monday expressed deep concern over the ban on rice from India as they are grievously affected by the Union government’s decision. Notably, in South Indian states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra, Telangana and Puducherry, rice is a staple diet item and with the ban on its export, the availability of parboiled rice has come down leading to the Tamil diaspora suffering with shortage of rice.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) All Rice Price Index increased by 2.8% on the month and 19.7% on the year to reach its highest nominal level since September 2011, as India’s July 20 prohibition of non-parboiled Indica exports fostered expectations of greater sales in other origins, amplifying upward pressure already exerted on prices by seasonally tighter supplies and Asian purchases.
“The ban imposed by the government of India on the export of certain types of rice in July this year is “for the global good to ensure food safety for economically weaker sections of consumers” and also “to prevent traders from hoarding and blackmarketing rice,” said India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal, while addressing a group of chartered accountants of ICAI from San Francisco. Goyal urged rice importers based in the US to “bear with” the Indian government’s calculated decision to put curbs on rice exports “for the larger good.”
The Indian government on Saturday imposed a 40% duty on the export of onions to check domestic price rise and improve supplies till December 31, 2023. India had earlier banned the export of non-Basmati white rice on July 20 by amending rice export norms and putting non-basmati white rice in “prohibited+” category.
Rice prices soared to the highest levels in almost 15 years in Asia on mounting concerns over global supplies as dry weather threatens production in Thailand and after top shipper India banned some exports.
India’s ban on the export of non-Basmati rice on July 20 has sent shockwaves among the rice-consuming community in the US. The sudden prohibition has led to a price rise and several stores across the country have begun limiting the number of rice bags one buys. The USA Rice Federation — the nation’s apex trade body on the foodgrain — believes the ban could impact as much as 80 percent of India’s rice exports and affect global food security. indica spoke to Mani Krishnan of Shastha Foods…
After the Indian government prohibited the export of non-Basmati rice, many department stores in the US are limiting the number of rice bags customers can purchase. A user on Twitter (now X) has shared a picture in which a notice put up by a store in the US, says, “Only one rice bag per family”.
In order to ensure adequate availability of non-Basmati white rice in domestic markets and prevent its prices from rising, the Centre on Thursday prohibited its export with immediate effect.
The Indian government on Thursday amended the rice export norms putting the non-basmati white rice in “prohibited” category. The export policy relating to non-basmati white rice (Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed: Other) has been revised from “free” to “prohibited” and it has come into force immediately, a Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notification said.
The export figure for last year had already been crossed in February and merchandise and services exports would touch $750 billion this year. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal made this forecast while addressing the 8th edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on March 4, Saturday.
