Chatha praises Hooda for taking up rice export issue

Chandigarh, Oct 23 (UNI) Haryana Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha has expressed his gratitude towards Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for taking up the matter of lifting the ban on export of Non-Basmati Rice with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Agriculture Minister said that the Chief Minister would also call on Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and urge him to take up the matter with the Union Ministry of Commerce.

The Minister said the export of Non-Basmati rice was a matter of routine but with the imposition of ban on export of PUSA 1121 variety the farmers had to bear loss as the rates for this variety had reduced by about Rs 600 to Rs 700 per quintal.

He asserted that PUSA 1121 was better than the variety of basmati.

Mr Chatha said there was a great demand for PUSA 1121 in the Arabian coutries and now the traders had also entered the market of European countries.

He said Mr Hooda had made sincere efforts to convince Commerce Minister Kamal Nath when he called on him on October 21 and apprised him of the problem being faced by the farmers.

UNI