RICE

The Centre on Friday reduced the reserve price of FCI rice under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) by Rs 550 per quintal to Rs 2,250 for states and ethanol producers to boost sales and support food security measures. According to a Food Ministry order, state governments and state-run corporations can purchase up to 12 lakh tonnes, while ethanol distilleries are allowed to buy up to 24 lakh tonnes at a reduced rate. The previous reserve price was Rs 2,800 per quintal for both categories. The Food Corporation of India (FCI), which manages rice stocks through weekly e-auctions, will implement the revised policy until June 30, 2025. Private traders and cooperatives will continue to pay Rs 2,800 per quintal, while central cooperatives like Nafed, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar selling under the 'Bharat' brand will pay Rs 2,400 per quintal. The ministry has mandated that the third cycle tender for about 110 crore litres of ethanol during 2024-25 should use FCI rice, with preference given to

India's rice exports have gained momentum after New Delhi removed most curbs in September and October

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, has introduced eight new high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties of wheat, rice and oilseeds, it said on Friday. Developed using radiation-based mutation breeding techniques, these non-GMO crop varieties are set to "revolutionise" agriculture across India, the BARC said in a statement here. The new varieties -- five cereals and three oilseeds -- are tailored to diverse agricultural conditions and were launched in collaboration with state agricultural universities. Speaking at the launch, Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, highlighted BARC's significant contribution in enhancing farmer incomes and boosting food and nutritional security. Vivek Bhasin, Director, BARC, called these varieties a "boon for farmers" due to their early maturity, disease resistance, climate resilience, salt tolerance, and higher yields compared to existing options. India's

Rice reserves in state granaries totalled 29.7 million tons at the start of this month, up 48.5% from a year ago, said the sources who did not wish to be named in line with official rules

Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday launched a mobile application of FCI Grievance Redressal System (FCI GRS) for rice millers. This is one of the measures taken by the government to enhance transparency, accountability and stakeholder satisfaction. State-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the nodal agency for the procurement and distribution of food grains. Joshi noted that rice millers are important stakeholders and integral part of the food security system and said the government is "committed to their welfare". He said the mobile app will help in addressing their grievances. This mobile application is available for download on the Google Play Store for Android users. Joshi said the government is also working for farmers' welfare and also ensuring that consumers get food products at reasonable rates. Aligned with the Digital India initiative, the mobile application aims to improve responsiveness and accountability by providing rice millers with a convenient plat

The government on Wednesday removed the minimum export price (MEP) of USD 490 per tonne on overseas shipments of non-basmati white rice, a move aimed at promoting shipments of the commodity. On September 28, the government withdrew a blanket ban on overseas shipments of non-basmati white rice and imposed the floor price. "The requirement of MEP for the export of non-basmati white rice...has been lifted with immediate effect," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. The government had imposed a ban on exports of non-basmati rice exports on July 20, 2023. These measures came at a time when the country has ample stock of rice at government godowns and retail prices are also under control. Earlier, the government scrapped the minimum export price for basmati rice to boost outbound shipments and enhance farmers' income. The country exported non-basmati white rice worth USD 201 million during April-August this fiscal. It was USD 852.52 million in ...

Traders said an initial announcement from Bulog said the rice could be sourced only from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam or Pakistan

India needs nearly 38 million metric tons of rice to distribute the grain for free to 800 million beneficiaries of the world's biggest food welfare programme

India had imposed a 20% duty on parboiled rice exports in 2023 after its crop was affected by below-normal rainfall

Last year, the El Nino weather pattern curtailed rains in the country, which relies on the June-to-September monsoon for watering nearly half of its farmland that lacks irrigation

The government on Thursday permitted the sale of up to 23 lakh tonnes of rice from Food Corporation of India (FCI) stocks to grain-based ethanol distilleries, reversing a ban imposed last year. The food ministry, as per a directive, has allowed ethanol producers to participate in e-auctions and purchase rice between August and October 2024 under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). This decision comes as the government grapples with surplus rice stocks exceeding 540 lakh tonnes, prompting efforts to create storage space for the upcoming harvest. The ministry stated, "Maximum 23 lakh tonne may be allowed for lifting to ethanol distilleries." Ethanol makers can purchase rice through weekly e-auctions. Purchases are subject to ethanol allocation by oil manufacturing companies. The government had halted rice sales for ethanol production in July 2023. The ban coincided with restrictions on non-basmati white rice exports. The FCI has been conducting e-auctions for rice sales to private

The government has banned exports of de-oiled rice bran, used in the cattle feed industry, till January 31, 2025. Earlier in March, the government imposed a ban on this product till July 31. "Export of de-oiled rice bran is prohibited up to January 31, 2025," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has said in a notification. In a separate trade notice, the DGFT said a revamped non-preferential Certificate of Origin (eCoO) 2.0 system has been launched. An exporter has to submit a 'certificate of origin' at the landing port of the importing country. This certificate is essential to prove where their goods come from. *** Vedanta Aluminium launches 3rd phase of Project Shree Shakti * Vedanta Aluminium on Tuesday said it has launched the third phase of an initiative to induct women employees into the night shift at its smelter operations in Jharsuguda, Odisha. It will enable women employees to have greater flexibility to work at their preferred hours and take on critical r

States can directly buy rice from the Food Corporation of India at Rs 2,800 per quintal without participating in the e-auction if they need it for their welfare schemes, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday. The Centre last year did not provide rice to states because of apprehensions of lower output in view of poor monsoon rains. Karnataka had demanded rice last year for its welfare scheme but the request was rejected. In June 2023, the Centre discontinued the sale of rice and wheat from the central pool under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to state governments. Addressing a press conference here, Joshi said, "States can directly buy rice from central pool at Rs 2800 per quintal. They do not need to participate in the e-auction process." He said there has been no demand so far from any state. According to an official statement, States can purchase rice from Food Corporation of India (FCI) under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) without .

The government is considering allowing white rice shipments with a fixed duty, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the talks are confidential

GRM Overseas, one of the leading Indian basmati rice exporters, on Friday said it will raise Rs 136.5 crore through issue of share warrants on a preferential basis to 33 promoters and non-promoter investors. The company's board has approved the allotment of up to 91,00,000 share warrants at an issue price of Rs 150, including a premium of Rs 148 per warrant. The board has approved the fund raise of Rs 136.5 core through the issue of share warrants on a preferential basis to 33 promoters and non-promoter investors, according to a regulatory filing. "The fund raised will also be used for expanding the '10X' Brand in India, making it a comprehensive food FMCG product company. The funds will also be allocated to explore future inorganic growth opportunities, including strategic mergers and acquisitions, and improve operational capabilities," the company said in a statement. These activities may be undertaken directly by the company or through its subsidiaries or joint ventures. The ..

Exports increased to 4.68 MMT in April-February, from 4.1 MMT during the same period, rising 14% in volume

Prescribed subsidy limit breached for marketing yr 2022-23

After Punjab, Chhattisgarh is the largest rice contributor to the current season's central pool

The 20% duty slowed India's parboiled rice exports, but still traders ship around 500,000 metric tons per month as prices jumped in competing countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Myanmar