India talking to other nations for rice import

India has begun reaching out to governments of other nations for import of rice to overcome shortage in the domestic market, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said today.

Talks have started...Prices will be negotiated," he told reporters on the sidelines of the State Industry Ministers meeting here.

He said Thailand is one of the countries India is talking to in this regard.

Indian PSUs have already floated global tenders for rice import, but the prices quoted in some of the bids is not what the government is looking at.

The issue of rice import is likely to be discussed by an Empowered Group of Ministers on November 20, Sharma said.

The EGoM headed by Pranab Mukherjee will also review the price situation of food items.

In Kharif (summer) season, rice production is estimated to have dropped by 15 million tonnes.

On industry's demand for banning cotton exports on the back of increasing prices in the domestic market, Sharma said, "Textiles Ministry has written to us... It is engaging our attention. We are talking to the stakeholders."