Govt allows export of 1,000 tonnes of rice; UP farmers to gain

The Centre has allowed export of 1,000 tonnes of Kala Namak raw rice, a premium nonbasmati variety from Uttar Pradesh, through any of six select destinations, including ports, without duty, after certification by the State government. Currently, export of parboiled rice alone is allowed at a 20 per cent rate of duty, while shipment of all other nonbasmati rice varieties is prohibited.

A Finance Ministry notification issued on April 2 said the export of Kala Namak rice will be permitted through customs stations in Varanasi Air Cargo, Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House (JNCH) at Nhava Sheva (Raigad, Maharashtra), Customs House Kandla (Gujarat), Land Customs Station (LCS) Nepalganj in Bahraich district (UP), LCS Sonauli at Maharajganj district (UP) or LCS Barhni in Siddharthnagar district (UP).

CUSTOMS STATIONS

The exporter has to furnish “a certificate to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or the Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, from the Director, Agriculture Marketing & Foreign Trade, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, certifying the item and quantity of Kala Namak rice to be exported.” Sources said it was planned to allow export through some ports in Chennai, but later on it was changed to use LCS in Uttar Pradesh, which delayed the notification.

As reported earlier, there is no distinction made between evolved varieties (dwarf plants) and traditional varieties (greater height of plant) in the current notification and both types are allowed.

“Government should come up with standards for other GI varieties and specialty varieties. Instead of classifying rice as basmati rice and nonbasmati rice, the labelling of rice as specialty, aromatic, premium and common could increase export realisation and in turn boost farm income,” said S Chandrasekaran, a foreign trade policy expert.