Date:12/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/04/12/stories/2008041250991200.htm

Back Plea to allow premium rice in small packs

Our bureau

Mumbai, April 11 Small-scale exporters of premium rice from southern India are aggrieved over the blanket ban on export of non-basmati rice.

Most of the exports are of premium rice varieties such as Ponni and SonaMasuri, packed in small consumer packs.

These varieties are popular among the expatriate Indians in the West Asia and other destinations, exporters point out.

While the export volumes are not large, export prices are attractive.

The small-scale operators have invested in infrastructure facilities such as grading machines, packing line and so on. They complain of losing out on a business that has been going on for over 15 years.

The South India Rice Exporters Association has represented to the Government to review the blanket ban and permit export of premium non-basmati rice varieties in consumer packs of up to five kg through designated ports Chennai, Kochi and Mumbai.

The shipment may be allowed in container loads only, the association has stated.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country has produced a record 94 million tonnes rice during 2007-08.