Chandigarh, June 30
Despite hope of a bumper crop due to good monsoon and high international prices of non- basmati rice, paddy growers in Haryana and Punjab will not be able to cash in on the prevailing market conditions, as the Supreme Court (SC) today stayed further export of non-basmati rice.
Though international price of non-basmati rice is hovering around $ 1,000 per tonne, non- basmati rice is fetching just $ 350 per tonne in the domestic market. With rice exporters now being forced to sell their produce in the domestic market, this year they will procure rice from the farmers on the basis of the domestic price, rather than the high global price.
The Supreme Court today stayed further shipment of non-basmati rice on the petition filed by the government of India, after Andhra Pradesh High Court had allowed certain companies to export the foodgrain. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had allowed allowed the export of non-basmati rice, after the Centre had banned exports in March earlier this year.
“In spite of expectations of a bumper crop, farmers in Punjab and Haryana will be unable to avail rich dividends on account of the ban on exports. Across the world, production of non- basmati rice is at its lowest, which is leading to rise in price of non-basmati rice in the global market. Almost four million tonnes of rice was exported from the country last year and rice exporters as well as farmers had made good profit,” said Vijay Setia, president of the All-India Rice Exporters Association.
Agrees Balbir Singh Rajewal, president, Bharatiya Kisan Union, “The paddy growers are being made the scapegoat by the Centre, which banned export in order to control inflation. The government has also not bothered to give substantial raise in the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy, which has been announced at Rs 850- 875 per quintal. Though the Commission on Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) had recommended raising of MSP to Rs 1,000 per quintal, the government set aside these recommendations. The government should allow free trade in the global market by lifting the ban, so that the farmers do not suffer”.
