India Exported USD 122.7mn Worth Non-Basmati White Rice in Apr-May: Govt

India exported non-basmati white rice worth USD 122.7 million during April-May this fiscal, the government told Parliament. The Centre is keeping  a close watch on its production,  availability and export scenario to assess suitable policy intervention, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said informed the Lok Sabha.

He said in a written reply that exports stood at USD 852.53 million in 2023-24, USD 2.2 billion in 2022-23 and USD 2 billion in 2021-22. He said the export of non-basmati white rice has been banned since July 20, 2023. However, export is allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government of India to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their government.

Accordingly, the export of non-basmati white rice has been allowed to different countries, Prasada said, disclosing that India has exported this rice to Maldives (1,24,218.36 MT), Mauritius (14,000 MT), Malawi (1,000 MT), Zimbabwe (1,000 MT), and Namibia (1,000 MT) so far this fiscal.

In 2023-24, the country exported the commodity to 17 nations - Bhutan (79,000 MT), Mauritius (14,000 MT), Singapore (50,000 MT), UAE (75,000 MT), Nepal (95,000 MT), Cameroon (1,90,000 MT), Cote d' Ivore (1,42,000 MT), Guinea (1,42,000 MT), and Malaysia (1,70,000 MT).

Other countries are Philippines (2,95,000 MT), Seychelles (800 MT), Comoros (20,000 MT), Madagascar (50,000 MT), Equatorial Guinea (10,000 MT), Egypt (60,000 MT), Kenya (1,00,000 MT), and Tanzania (30,000 MT).