The Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry recently banned the export of non-basmati white rice, with immediate effect.
It aims to ensure adequate availability of non-basmati white rice in the Indian market and to allay the rise in prices in the domestic market.
Rice production has taken a hit owing to vagaries of weather such as heavy monsoon rains in rice-producing States in the north and deficit rainfall in other parts of the country.
China, a major rice producer, has also suffered owing to inclement weather.
India is the world’s leading rice exporter, accounting for more than 40% of the global rice trade, as well as the second-largest producer after China.
The major markets for Indian rice are African countries.
China, India, Thailand, Vietnam, and Pakistan are the leading producers and major global suppliers of rice.