Govt Considers Lifting Ban On Non-Basmati Rice Exports, Says Food Secretary

The ban on non-basmati white rice exports has been in place since July 20, 2023, aimed at increasing domestic rice supply

The government is reviewing the possibility of lifting the export ban on certain varieties of non-basmati rice, according to Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra. In a statement made on Wednesday, Chopra indicated that the ban on the export of non-basmati white rice is under evaluation.

"Lifting the export ban on white rice is also under consideration. These are dynamic decisions, and we will make an appropriate choice based on the requirements and available stocks," Chopra told reporters.

The ban on non-basmati white rice exports has been in place since July 20, 2023, aimed at increasing domestic rice supply. In addition to this, the government has indefinitely extended the 20 per cent export duty on parboiled rice.

Despite these measures, Chopra assured that rice stocks in government warehouses remain sufficient, and retail prices are stable.

MEP Scrapped for Onion Exports

In a related development, the government recently removed the Minimum Export Price (MEP) for onions, which had previously been set at $550 per tonne. This move, effective immediately, will allow Indian farmers to export onions at more competitive rates.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification confirming the policy change. The decision comes ahead of upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra, a key onion-producing state, and is expected to boost exports.

"The MEP condition on onion exports has been removed with immediate effect and will remain so until further notice," the DGFT said in its notification.

The policy shift follows a recent spike in onion prices, attributed to supply shortages caused by lower harvests and unfavorable weather conditions. Currently, retail onion prices average Rs 45 per kilogram, up from Rs 31 per kilogram at the same time last year.