Ban on export of broken rice exposes Centre’s lack of vision

Hyderabad: Strange are the ways of the BJP-led Central Government. After refusing to recognise the rising demand for broken rice in other countries and the excellent possibilities of exporting the broken rice, the Centre refused to buy paddy produced in Yasangi season  purely on the reason that when milled, Yasangi paddy would get more broken rice.

That was the single reason why the Centre refused to buy paddy from Telangana last Yasangi season, creating a furore in the farming community.

The Telangana government had repeatedly requested the Centre to buy paddy in Yasangi season arguing that if broken rice component was more during the milling, it could be exported earning some foreign exchange for the country, while helping the farmers in Telangana. But the Centre steadfastly refused.

And now, with the demand for broken rice growing rapidly in international markets, the Centre has imposed a ban on export of broken rice citing shortage of the same in the country.

“If only the Centre had listened to Telangana’s argument about purchase of paddy in Yasangi season, there would have been sufficient stocks of broken rice in the country and now there would not be a situation to ban the export of the same” argued a farmer.

The latest order banning the export of broken rice were issued on Friday. This apart, 20 per cent export duty on select rice varieties was imposed exempting basmati and parboiled rice out of the duty purview.

The decision to ban export of broken rice has left the farmers fuming as they said that Central Government’s illogical decisions were compounding problems of the farming community.

Unlike, other States, there are bountiful rains this season in Telangana and a bumper paddy yield is expected. Already, the mills were overburdened and there is not much of storage space in the State. Last season, Food Corporation of India had created hurdles in paddy procurement, citing different reasons, including huge buffer stocks.

Considering all these factors, the decision to ban exports of broken rice appears to be a politically motivated decision, said Indian Farmers Association Consortium Chief Advisor P Chengal Reddy.

The decision was hurting the Andhra and Telangana Government‘s and reflects the BJP Government’s grudge against farmers, he said.

Though, there is no specific reasoning over ban on exports of broken rice, there are multiple opinions from farmers leaders.

There was poor sowing during the ongoing season due to scanty rains and yield output is uncertain in different States. By banning the export, the Central Government aims to boost domestic supplies, a few observed.

Another reason was increased demand for broken rice, which was being used as feed in poultry and other sectors, in the wake of reduced supplies of corn, wheat and maize from war-torn Ukraine and Russia. The move to ban export of broken rice was nothing but Central Government’s lack of clear policy and vision, others argued.