Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has requested the Union government to permit export of additional 1.5 million tonne rice from the state to other countries through normal trade channels so that the rice held in the state was disposed of and the millers would be ready to commence paddy purchases immediately for the ensuing kharif season.
In separate letters written on Tuesday to finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and food and consumer affairs minister KV Thomas, the chief minister said the godowns in the state were full with rice stocks and urged them to consider export so that the millers could clear the stocks on hand.