Centre sets up new body to promote rice exports

To give further impetus to rice exports, the Centre has established up a new physique – Rice Export Marketing Discussion board (REPF), underneath the aegis of the Agricultural and Processed Foodstuff Export Marketing Growth Authority (Apeda).

Rice, both basmati and non-basmati assortment, is the biggest commodity in India’s agri-export basket. Shipments stood at $7.77 billion in 2018-19, with basmati exports at $four.seventy two billion and non-basmati at $3.05 billion. Final export figures for 2019-20 are however to be introduced by Apeda.

“Considering the significance of export of rice, its inherent potentials and the multifarious difficulties, which are confronted in the procedure, it is determined to constitute a Rice Export Marketing Discussion board,” an Apeda notification explained.

Stakeholders

The new physique will comprise associates from the rice field, exporters, officers from Apeda, Commerce Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and Administrators of Agriculture from significant rice manufacturing states these kinds of as West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

“The EPF will make concerted efforts to determine, doc particulars and reach out to stakeholders across the overall manufacturing/ source chain of export of rice for raising these exports significantly to the world-wide industry, via several interventions,” the notification explained.

EPF will keep an eye on, determine and foresee developments pertaining to manufacturing and exports and endorse necessary policy steps. It will be in contact with rice producers, exporters and other relevant stakeholders and hear their challenges, and facilitate, guidance and deliver alternatives to them.

Aggressive edge

The transfer assumes significance as rice is the only agri-commodity from India at the moment that managed its competitiveness in the overseas industry. The exports of other grains these kinds of as wheat and maize are unviable due to the better manufacturing expenses.

India, the second biggest develop of rice in the entire world, has been the biggest exporter of the cereal right after the shipments of the non-basmati had been allowed from 2011.

India’s manufacturing has been likely up steadily in excess of the past quite a few decades. From around 96 million tonnes in 2010-11, rice manufacturing is viewed touching a document 117.forty seven million tonnes in 2019-20, per Next Advance Estimates.