New Delhi, July 24 (FN Bureau) Deccan Grainz India Director Kiran Kumar Pola on Monday said that Indians residing in the US need not worry about availability of rice stocks as there are enough stocks in that county that will surely last for next six months. Pointing out that consumers are queuing up at shops in the US for rice, Kiran said that around 12,000 metric tonnes of rice stocks are available in the US. Exporters say that another 18,000 metric tonnes of rice is being transported from India. They estimate that these reserves will be enough for six months, Kiran said in a release here. “NRI’s should exercise restraint and remain calm when it comes to buying rice. There are enough stocks available.
It’s painful and worrisome to see people spending more on rice due to shortage fears. This problem will not continue for long,” he maintained. Rice exporters are confident that the central government will soon take an appropriate decision keeping in mind the needs of the Indian Diaspora, Pola said. With the recent ban on non-basmati white rice exports from India, rice stores in the USA are jam-packed with NRI consumers. People are queuing at shops to purchase rice in large quantities due to fear of shortage. The price of a 9.07 kg bag was earlier quoted at $16-18. Now its price has more than doubled. In some places, the price of each bag went up to $50. According to traders, on an average, 6,000 metric tonnes of non-basmati rice is exported from India to the USA every month.
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh account for 4,000 metric tonnes, the exporter said. Pointing out that Indians in the US largely consume Sona Masoori rice, Kiran urged the central government to exempt Sona Masoori rice from the ban. “Agriculture sector and consumers will benefit if the central government creates separate classification for non-basmati rice. The government should also keep in mind the needs of Indians living overseas. Their concerns should also be addressed. Besides, the central government can regulate the classification and marketing of rice varieties. This will lead to better pricing, distribution and export opportunities,” he said. The government should also monitor varieties of rice, demand for them in domestic as well as international markets and challenges faced by farmers and consumers, the Deccan Grainz Director added.