Amid weak prices of agri commodities, robust rice demand bucks the trend

The price of rice has been ruling high, mainly on robust exports, demand from mills, and the entry of traders who lost in other commodities like oilseeds and pulses

Even as rural India reels from the impact of a sharp decline in the prices of several farm commodities, rice seems to have outperformed major agriculture goods, driven mainly by good export demand, a decline in kharif output and heightened stocking by traders and dealers.

The price of common variety rice has risen by almost 14.5 per cent in the wholesale market over the past year, a phenomenon different from what has been seen in other agriculture commodities, reveal data sourced from various agencies. In the past five months alone, the price has risen by nine per cent.

While export