Mumbai, 7 Sep (Commoditiescontrol): India is poised for a strategic overhaul in its white rice export sector, as the government plans to shift export responsibilities from the Food Cooperation of India (FCI) to the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL). This move, detailed by industry sources, aims to make Indian rice globally accessible by eliminating quota restrictions on exports.
Under the new policy, NCEL will take a leading role in managing exports, which is anticipated to enhance India’s competitive edge in the global market. However, this transition is expected to cause a surge in prices for Parboiled 5% rice. It was highlighted that the government intends to allow exports solely through NCEL, integrating 14 key commodities, including rice, into this model.
Significant long-term plans are in place to replace the FCI's procurement process with that of NCEL, which will handle surplus rice procurement directly from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), oversee the milling process, and manage exports. This strategic shift will allow the FCI to focus exclusively on maintaining national buffer stocks.
For NCEL to be competitive on an international stage, it must eliminate the existing 20% export duty. This adjustment is crucial as it would provide NCEL with the flexibility needed to thrive under free trade conditions, unlike the current system that favors exporters with fewer restrictions.
Established to boost exports across India’s cooperative sector, NCEL’s enhanced role is designed to strengthen the country’s agricultural export framework, ensuring a robust presence in international markets.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau: 09820130172)
|