The ban imposed by the Central government on the export of rice (excluding basmati and parboiled) is unlikely to immediately affect rice producers in Tamil Nadu or Tamils living abroad, as both the export of rice from T.N. and the consumption of rice by Indians abroad is predominantly parboiled.
When asked about the possible impact of the ban and whether any representation had been made by rice producers in this regard, a senior official of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department replied in the negative. “The industry is of the view that non basmati rice can be converted into parboiled, and can be exported, as parboiled and basmati rice are not included under the ban,” the official told The Hindu. Tamil Nadu is among the major rice producing States in the country.
M. Sivanandan, president of the Mannachanallur Taluk Rice Mill Owners Association pointed out that the ban on rice exports would help stabilise rice prices, as the next harvest will be for about three months in January-February in Tamil Nadu. Usually, an increase in rice price would be seen in November, once the stock from the previous produce runs out. “Since exports are banned now, this has likely prevented the price rise,” he said.
