Hooda hails Centre's rethink on rice export issue

Chandigarh, Oct 24 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the Central government had assured to lift the ban on the export of non-basmati rice on his request.

Resultantly, the procurement of paddy had again started and the farmers were getting far more remunerative prices of their produce than earlier, he said while talking to the media persons here today.

Mr Hooda said that soon after after returning from his foreign tour, he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 22 and subsequently with the Union Agriculture and Commerce Ministers to convince them that the demand of the farmers in this regard was justified.

The Chief Minister said he had also urged the Central government to announce a further hike of Rs 100 per quintal in the minimum support price of paddy so that the farmers could get profitable prices of their produce.

At present, the Minimum support price of paddy was Rs 695 per quintal inclusive a bonus of Rs 50 for a common variety and Rs 725 per quintal inclusive of Rs 50 bonus for class one variety.

He thanked the Central government for announcing a significant one time hike of Rs 250 per quintal on wheat as requested by him.

UNI