Govt to stay export ban on rice till November end

India today said export ban on rice and other foodgrains would stay till November end and the review would be taken only after arrival of the new rice crop.     

"Till the new crop comes, whatever restrictions are there, they will stay in place...Possibly by end of November or so. After the rice crop we will know what is the position," Commerce Secretary G K Pillai told reporters here at a CII function.     

The empowered Group of Ministers, chaired by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, is also meeting tomorrow to review the situation relating to the production, stocks and prices in the open market. It will review the stock availability for the Public Distribution System.      

Government has banned export of non-basmati rice, wheat ,maize and pulses to ensure availability of the commodities in the domestic market and to keep a check on inflation, which has since come closer to the 12 per cent mark.     

However, rice exporters have been demanding that export ban of non-basmati rice be eased and suggested that the Centre may put a cap on the quantity to be shipped for its adequate availability in the domestic market.     

The country saw a record production of 96.43 million tonne in the 2007-08 season. The rice harvest comes into the market from October.

According to the government's fourth advance estimate, the production of wheat, which is a rabi crop, is estimated at record 78.4 million tonne.     

Barring at few places, wheat prices have remained stable. The government is planning to sale wheat in the open market at these cities to curb prices.     

Non-basmati rice prices have risen in last one year and are currently hovering between Rs 15-22 per kg.