India bans export of non-basmati white rice

As per a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, India, world’s top rice exporter, has implemented a ban on all exports of “non-basmati white rice” to stabilize domestic prices. However, the government will permit the export of white rice to other nations upon request, subject to the fulfillment of their food security requirements and their government’s formal approval.

The government stated that the reason for the export ban was “to guarantee sufficient availability of non-basmati white rice in the Indian market and to mitigate the increase in prices within the country.”

Challenges Affecting Rice Production in the Country

The country’s rice production has been adversely affected by two main factors. Firstly, the war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on global food prices. Secondly, rice production has also been hit by unpredictable weather conditions, including heavy monsoon rains in rice-producing states in the north and insufficient rainfall in other regions of the country.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and its Role in Promoting India’s Exports

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is an agency under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Indian Government, headquartered in New Delhi. Its primary role is to oversee and enforce laws related to foreign trade. The DGFT is also entrusted with the task of developing and executing the Foreign Trade Policy, aimed at bolstering India’s export activities.