Rice exporters welcome lifting of ban on non-Basmati rice

Karnal, Oct 24 (UNI) All India Exporters Association (AIEA) has demanded that the farmers be compensated for selling their paddy below the market price following the ban from October 16 to 23.

Addressing mediapersons here today, AIEA President Vijay Setia said that they welcomed the lifting of ban though the ban had triggered a sharp fall in the market prices of fine varieties like Pusa 1121, Pusa-T, Sharbati. Farmers had to sell these varieties at Rs 1500 per tonne as against Rs 2200 per tonne, prior to the ban.

''This balance amount should immediately be given to the farmers'', Mr Setia said while pointing out that it was the duty of commission agents and arhtiyas who had purchased the finer varieties in bulk during the ban period to compensate the farmers.

He described the decision to impose the ban as a ''bureaucratic bungling''.

UNI