India - Rice export: BJP plan to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with farmers' representatives

BJP today said it planned to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with all party farmers' representatives and farmers associations to press for rice export in the wake of increased production and drop in prices.

"This year, wheat output forecast is 84.34 million tons (MT) and rice output is estimated at 102 MT. Because of bumper grain harvest which have added to existing stocks, prices of wheat and rice have fallen below Minimum Support Price," senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said here.

These were reasons for Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices, a government advisory body on pricing for farm goods, recommending opening up exports, he said in a statement here.

Of India's foodgrain stock estimates as on Mar 1 2011, both rice and wheat were more than buffer stock norms, with the former in higher number than wheat.

"Global prices are very high and we are in the middle of agriculture harvesting. So it is time to allow exports so that farmers get better price for their produce. Foodgrains must be exported at higher prices which are available at international market as on now," he said.

With expectations of a normal monsoon, some of the existing stock should be disposed off, as otherwise it would again be difficult to maintain prices, he said.

Claiming that farmers were forced to sell paddy at a price less than MSP, he recalled that MPs of various parties had taken up the rice export issue with finance minister Pranab Mukherji and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar in March 2011.

Unfortunately, no action had been taken and farmers are now forced to resort to distress sale,he said adding the party and farmers' representatives and associations would meet the Prime Minister to apprise him of the serious situation.

He recalled that an appeal was made to Singh in November 2010 to allow export of BPT-5204 rice, largely grown in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

"There is a huge quantity of rice available in the market since last year. The Government of India should consider all aspects and take a decision with regard to allowing export of foodgrains, particularly wheat and rice at the earliest," he added.

(Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_rice-export-bjp-plan-to-meet-prime-minister-manmohan-singh-with-farmers-representatives_1535002)