NAGPUR: Chandrapur MP Hansraj Ahir has demanded immediate lifting of ban on export of non-Basmati rice, stressing that it was causing huge losses to farmers.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the MP said, "Before the ban was imposed, rice was fetching around 1,700 a quintal. However, within a few days of imposing a ban it slid to 1,000 per quintal and now it has touched 800 per quintal. The farmers are despondent. I know this from my interaction with farmers of Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Gondia and Nagpur districts."

"It is clear that the supply far outstrips the domestic demand and therefore imposing an export ban defies all logic. On one hand, grains are rotting in godowns and on the other the government is not allowing farmers to export rices," he said.

Ahir charged that farmers were also incurring losses due to inadequate purchase centres. "The government purchases rice for public distribution system (PDS). But due to few purchases centres farmers have to sell their produce to traders at throwaway prices."

The MP pointed out that prices of non-Basmati rice in international market are quite high and if the export ban is lifted Indian farmers would benefit greatly.

Ahir said that he was of the opinion that the minimum support price (MSP) for rice should be increased. He is slated to meet agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on October 22.

Source: The Times Of India