The government today said that the ban on export of non-basmati rice will continue for the time being. "Ban continues," Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said when asked whether any decision was taken on allowing exports of superior varieties of non-basmati rice at the empowered group of ministers meeting held yesterday. The Centre had banned export of non-basmati rice in April 2008 to check inflation. However,export of basmati rice is permitted at a minimum export price of USD 900 per tonne. The Food Ministry had proposed that some superior varieties of non-basmati rice such as matta be allowed with quantitative restrictions. Earlier,Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar had said that the government will consider allowing export of some non-basmati rice varieties this year. The minister had said that several states have requested the government to allow the export of a particular variety of rice produced in Kerala,as there is high demand for the same in Gulf countries. All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA) has been demanding the removal of the ban,saying that it has helped rival Pakistan to emerge as one of the largest exporter of rice globally while putting India exporters at a disadvantage. "Pakistani traders have advantages,as they can offer both basmati and non-basmati varieties of rice," AIREA President Ashok Sethia had said,suggesting that the government could fix the minimum export price (MEP) at USD 800-850 per tonne for shipment of superior varieties of non-basmati rice. Rice production fell to 89.13 million tonnes in 2009-10 crop year (July-June) against a record 99.18 million tonnes in the previous year.
