Lift ban on non-basmati rice export: Andhra CM.

New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy today demanded that the Centre lift the ban on export of non-basmati rice.

"Farmers in Andhra Pradesh are asking for export of non- basmati rice. So this is the request we made to the minister," Reddy told reporters after meeting Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar here.

India has prohibited the export of non-basmati rice since April, 2008, on account of high food inflation, which is still hovering at 8.60 per cent. It has, however, allowed the export of non-basmati rice on diplomatic grounds to neighbouring countries.

The minister also discussed problems with paddy procurement in the state due to rains.
"There is a problem in paddy procurement because of rains and discolouring of the crop. The Centre has send a team to assess the damage," he said.

So far, 2.09 lakh tonnes of paddy has been procured in Andhra Pradesh since the start of the current marketing year in September, compared to 2.21 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year.

The latest floods are estimated to have inundated and destroyed some 3.21 lakh hectares of paddy acreage. The state has pegged paddy output at 84 lakh tonnes this year.


Source : news.in.msn.com