Punjab asks Centre to lift ban on export of non-basmati rice, prices fall

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has asked the Centre to lift the ban on non-basmati rice export as it has proved detrimental to the interests of farmers.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the chief minister said the Centre's decision was not only anti-farmer but also against the basic principles of sound economic planning.

Badal urged both the Prime Minister and Union Agriculture minister to review the decision because it would not only hamper the interest of the farming community but also alienate them from producing paddy in future. He cautioned that such steps could jeopardise national food security.

Meanwhile, Haryana Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha expressed his gratitude towards Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for pursuing the matter of lifting the ban on export of non-basmati rice.

The agriculture minister said the chief minister would call on Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and would urge him to plead the matter of lifting the ban imposed on the export of non-basmati rice with the Union Ministry of Commerce.

The minister said the procurement of paddy was smooth and export of non-basmati rice was a matter of routine but with the imposition of ban on the export of PUSA 1121 variety, the farmers had to bear loss as the rates of PUSA 1121 had reduced to about Rs 600 to Rs 700 per quintal.

Chatha said there was a huge demand of PUSA 1121 in Arabian countries and now the traders had entered European markets as well.

The minister said the chief minister had called on the Prime Minister yesterday and the issue was discussed in a meeting.