Ban on rice export affects Kakinada port

Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Jan 8 (UNI) The Kakinada anchorage port, a leading centre for export of rice, may soon turn into a fertiliser import point following the ban on export on non-Basmati rice and stocks of maize and soya.

The export of the last consignment of about two lakh metric tonne of rice, certified by the state government was expected to be completed by the end of this month. Similarly, the export of maize and soya stocks would be over by February.

The activities at the port would be confined to fertiliser import with poor arrival of agriclutural products once the eight shipment of rice, and ten shipment of maize and soya were completed.

Together with the gloom over the prospects of the port, is the uncertain future, looming large over the families of about 20,000 workers.

With the export of agro-products also coming down, the functioning of the port had been affected due to diversion of cargo like iron ore to the deep-water port.

''If the rice export is not resumed, the future of the anchorage port and the workers would be in peril,'' a shipping agent said.

''Wheat consuming states like Punjab is already facing the glut of unexported rice stocks. It is high time, the Centre reconsider its decision and lift the ban on export of rice,''a spokesman of the Cocanada Chamber of Commerce said.

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