Andhra Pradesh

Ban a bolt from the blue, say rice export canvassing agents

Kakinada: The Kakinada Rice Export Canvassing Agents’ Association has expressed its shock and dismay over the overnight decision of the Central Government banning the exports of non-Basmati rice. “It will have a chain reaction, ultimately affecting farmers as millers will not venture to buy the paddy at the minimum support price in the absence of supply orders from exporters. Already, 3.5 lakh tonnes of rice worth Rs.350 crores got piled up in the port area godowns,” said G. Srinivasa Rao, chief advisor of the association at a press conference here on Friday.

“Though the role of canvassing agents as rice brokers and the loss sustained on account of the rice exports ban is negligible to them when compared to exporters, the government should take an overall view of the situation and the plight of those depended upon the trade,” he said.

Besides millers and canvassing agents, buyers and exporters, he said a lot of people such as lorry owners, workers, steel barges and port workers, clearing and forwarding agents were in the chain that have to bear the brunt, of course with degrees of variance.

Above all, he said, the anchorage port which was mainly depended upon the rice exports would be affected adversely.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that the decision taken for short-term benefit would lead to crisis for which the government alone should be held responsible.

“Even before awarding death punishment, the judge hears the convict’s version.

But in this case that is denied,” he lamented.

Association president Vinod Kumar Agarwal said that rice exports, which touched 8.5-lakh metric tonne mark in 1995-96, reached the peak with 19 lakh metric tonnes by 2006-07 and it became the major cargo for the anchorage port.

He said the ‘abrupt’ decision of the government would affect the country’s image at the international market and foreign buyers would lose the confidence in the Indian suppliers.

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