Govt allows 25,000 tonne non-basmati rice export

Partially easing the ban on export of non-basmati rice, the government has allowed two export-oriented units from Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh to ship 25,000 tonne in the current season.   

In partial relaxation of ban on export of non-basmati rice, the 100% export-oriented unit -- Venkatachalapathi Modern Rice of Pondicherry and Bharat Exporters in Andhra Pradesh -- are allowed to export 12,500 tonne each, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification here.     

The DGFT has also prescribed that the non-basmati rice consignment would be allowed subject to the fulfillment of the minimum export price (MEP) of $1,000 a tonne. This means the two companies would have to sell the rice abroad at a price not less than about Rs 50,000 a tonne.

The export of non-basmati rice allowed to these export- oriented units only during kharif marketing season 2008-09 (October-September) and the quantity exported would be monitored through an appropriate system, it said.     

Confronted with price spiral, the government took several measures in March this year to improve the domestic availability of foodgrain.     

The Centre had banned export of rice, first in October, 2007. But within a fortnight it partially eased the restriction by introducing the MEP system following protests by the exporters. However, it imposed a blanket ban on non-basmati rice and hiked the MEP on basmati to 1,200 dollars a tonne in