downtoearth-subscribe

India bans export of non basmati rice

India bans export of non basmati rice  the Union government increased the minimum support price of wheat, paddy, sugarcane, mustard, rapeseed and other agricultural commodities on October 9. The announcement was made after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the prime minister, accepted the recommendations on the minimum support price (msp) by the Commission of Agricultural Cost and Prices.

msp of wheat was raised from Rs 850 per 100 kg (including Rs 100 as bonus) to Rs 1,000 per 100 kg. The decision came in the wake of criticism for importing wheat at Rs 1,600 per 100 kg. Not satisfied with this, wheat cultivators say msp should have been at least Rs 1,240 per 100 kg.

The Bharat Kisan Union, on October 15, sent a memorandum to the prime minister, requesting that msp be linked to the wholesale price index (wpi). "In 2005-06, msp for wheat based on wpi should have been Rs 724 per 100 kg but it was fixed at Rs 640. The loss thus incurred over the past 25 years is around Rs 20,000 crore,' said Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, president of the union.

For paddy, the cabinet announced a bonus of Rs 50 per 100 kg, raising the support price for the common variety of rice to Rs 695 per 100 kg, and for grade

Related Content