Kerala - Kochi

Lift rice export ban: millers

KOCHI: The Kalady Rice Millers Consortium, a cluster of about 40 rice millers functioning at Kalady near Kochi, wants the Centre to lift the ban on export of matta (brown variety) rice. Continuation of the ban will be counter productive, the millers said.

A ban on rice export was imposed in the wake of the shortage of rice in the domestic market.

The government has decided to lift the ban only in the case of basmati rice variety. With a promising harvest, there will be surplus of rice in the market, according to the millers.

On the other hand, continuation of the ban would have a multiple impact, said N.P. Antony, managing director of the consortium. Consumption of matta rice is high among Malayalis. It is difficult for many of them to change the culinary habit. Thus, the non-availability of matta rice in the Gulf and European countries has been a cause for concern for Malayali population there, Mr. Antony told The Hindu.

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