Only PSUs exported non-basmati rice to African nations: Govt

The government today said export of non-basmati rice to African nations through diplomatic channels has been undertaken by PSUs and not by any private entity.

The affirmation from the Centre came amid allegations by a section of the industry that STC, MMTC and PEC have assigned private traders to export non-basmati rice even though the government has allowed only these PSUs to undertake overseas shipments to fulfil its commitment to such nations.

"Export to these African countries was done by the PSUs, as evidenced by documents of export, to the buyers in these countries identified by the respective African countries," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Earlier this month, non-basmati rice exporters had appealed to the government to allow them, and not just the PSUs, to ship the non-basmati variety abroad.

The government had banned export of non-basmati rice in April 2008 to contain surging inflation. However, it decided to export about 20 lakh tonnes of the rice through STC, MMTC and PEC to the countries that had made request through diplomatic channels on humanitarian ground.

The ban is still in force.