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Limited export of rice might take place: Pillai
LAST UPDATE: Saturday, 10 May 2008 - 4:08:26 AM
KOCHI: Union Commerce Secretary G K Pillai yesterday said limited export of rice might take place as India has to continue the export of rice to some countries on humanitarian grounds.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the International Rubber Conference here, Pillai said relaxation in rice export had already been allowed.
"We have been exporting to Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, on humanitarian grounds," he said.
Replying to a query, Pillai said, "I cannot rule out that some limited export might still take place." He said consumption of rice has no doubt increased in the country.
"We also have the duty to the world community to put enough rice in the world market which we were otherwise doing, but it will not be as high as previous year particularly as this is an election year," he said.
Inflation is a combination of so many factors from supply, perception and shortage of commodities, he said.
"We are importing lot of pulses from Myanmar and if the pulses import is affected by the cyclone that had hit that country recently, the dal prices will rise here." Pillai also cautioned the rubber farmers on history of all commodity prices which are cyclical.
"A few years ago we had almost forgotten that such a period existed that farmers were literally running from pillar to post asking the government to fix the Minimum Support Price," he said.
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