Raise rice import duty issue with Iran: Haryana to Sitharaman

Fearing import duty raised by Iran on rice imported from India could hit state's basmati growers, the Haryana government today said he has written a letter to Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to take up the issue with that country.
Expressing concern over "low" prices of premium rice varieties, Haryana Agriculture minister O P Dhankar today held meeting with rice exporters, asking them to be "transparent" in giving prices to basmati growers.
He said that basmati growers should get remunerative prices for their crops.
"There is an impact of international market on basmati prices here (in India). Iran, which is the biggest importer of basmati rice from India, has raised import duty on Indian rice to 45 per cent which could prove to be serious trouble for basmati growers of Haryana," Dhankar told PTI today.

"I have written to our Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to raise the issue of import duty with Iran and get it resolved," he said.
Haryana and Punjab contribute about 70 per cent of country's basmati production.

Basmati prices like PUSA 1121 are currently ruling at Rs 2,800 per quintal as against 4,000-4,500 per quintal last season.
Dhankar, an MLA from Badli assembly constituency in Haryana, said that a team has been formed to compare the basmati prices prevailing in India and in other countries to see the difference in rates.
Pointing out another reason in drop in prices, Dhankar said that this season area under basmati had gone up considerably.

Worried over low prices, Dhankar today held meeting with rice exporters and asked them not to exploit rice growers by paying less prices for their crop.
"I have told rice exporters that the Haryana government and Centre are alert and will not allow any kind of exploitation of basmati growers," he said.
Dhankar also visited grain markets and took note of prices being paid to farmers.