'Ban on rice export may damage rural economy'
The Basmati Growers Association, protesting rumours of ban on rice export has urged the government to stay away from interfering in the rice trade. The Association's President, Chaudhry Hamid Malhi fears that at the time of sowing of paddy such a step could result in lesser production. He said that rice production in the country was double of domestic requirements. Malhi said that pressing of rice price would only damage the farmers as how they would meet the increasing cost of production. He claimed that seven million farming families were attached with rice growing besides businessmen.