The Hindu : National : Non-basmati rice export ban to stay

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Non-basmati rice export ban to stay

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday decided to continue the ban on export of non-basmati rice in the face of inflation still being in double digits.

The decision to retain the ban on the vital food grain was taken here at a meeting of the Group of Ministers headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

“The ban on non-basmati rice will continue,” a senior official told journalists.

Confronted with price spiral, the government took several measures in March this year to improve the domestic availability of food grain.

Accepting a long-pending demand of the industry and agricultural scientists, the Centre has declared Pusa 1121 as a basmati variety by widening the definition of basmati.

The gazette notification has been issued after the Agriculture Ministry took a decision to widen the definition of basmati to include Pusa 1121 variety, a senior government official said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry had earlier agreed that Pusa 1121 should be declared as basmati, paving the way for the change in the definition.

Pusa 1121 – developed in 2003 by the IARI – has all the qualities of basmati in terms of elongation, aroma, non-stickiness, softness and fluffy texture, industry experts say. Its 8 mm length expands to 18 mm after cooking. -- PTI

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