India allows rice export to Bhutan, Mauritius

India on permitted Wednesday exports of limited quantities of non-basmati white rice to Bhutan, Mauritius and Singapore, according to a notification by Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

- Puja Das

Bhutan will get 79,000 tonnes, Mauritius 14,000 tonnes and Singapore 50,000 tonnes, even as the export ban imposed on July 20 remains in place.

The export will be done through National Cooperative Exports Ltd, a government export body which was set up under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002 to export agriculture produce and allied items.

"Though monsoon has been deficient during August, Indian government agreed to allow export to the needy countries totally on humanitarian ground. It will surely benefit exporters but will further add to food inflation in India, considering less than normal expected production of kharif crop," said Suraj Agarwal, chief executive office of Rice Villa brand.