Govt likely to extend aromatic rice export time for another year

The government is likely to extend the time limit for exporting aromatic rice to the international markets by another year, officials said.

The aromatic rice export may be extended to June 15, 2015, they said.

Earlier, the office of the chief controller of imports and exports (CCIE) under the ministry of commerce (MoC) issued a circular to extend the time for aromatic rice export, until June 2014. On the other hand, ban on export of normal rice is in force, a high official of the MoC informed.

"The MoC has sought opinion from the authorities concerned about the time limit extension for aromatic rice export. The MoC will take the decision in this connection after getting the opinion," Saidur Rahman Selim, Deputy Secretary of MoC told the FE Friday.

He, however, said the country has achieved a bumper production of boro this year. The farmers of different districts especially Habiganj, Kishoreganj and Netrakona are harvesting their Boro crop. Decision on normal rice export would be taken after the harvesting of Boro.

Ban on rice export may continue to boost supply of rice in the local markets and control its prices, an official of the ministry of food said.

He, however, said the government may consider rice export to boost prices for growers as the rice remains surplus.  

The then interim government had first imposed ban on rice export in 2008 in the wake of price increase at home and abroad.

The consumption of aromatic rice is low in the local market. So, the government should continue the export of the scented rice for the sake of Bangladeshi migrants who are living in different countries of the world, industry insiders said.  

Agriculture officials said the production of Boro rice will be sufficient this year and Aman production this year is also expected to be adequate.

The government's present rice stock is 07.85 lakh MTs while that of wheat is 2.51 lakh MTs. Aman procurement programme had started on December 01, 2013. Some 3,55,143 MTs of Aman were collected as of 31.03.2014, according to the ministry of food.

The retail and wholesale price of rice is between Tk 33 and 35 and Tk 30.50 and 32.50 per Kg respectively, food ministry data said.