Domestic production of rice estimated to reach record level of 1420 lakh tonnes

19-Sep-2024 03:00 PM

New Delhi. A leading exporter organization - Indian Rice Exporters Federation has estimated the total domestic production of rice to reach a top level of 1420 lakh tonnes in the current season of 2024-25, which is much higher than the gross production of 1367 lakh tonnes of 2023-24 season.

According to the National President of the Federation, this time the production area of ​​Kharif period paddy has increased by 4 percent to 410 lakh hectares and the southwest monsoon rainfall has also been more than the normal average.

As a result, good cultivation of paddy is expected in Rabi season and Zaid season as well. The monsoon season is in its final phase and so far 7-8 percent surplus rainfall has occurred.

According to the President of the Federation, this year the production of Basmati rice is expected to increase by about 15 percent.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) had estimated the production of 98.50 lakh tonnes of Basmati rice in the 2023-24 season. The chairman believes that its production will easily cross the 100 lakh tonne limit in 2024-25.

The Federation President says that the government should remove the 20 percent export duty on non-Basmati Sela rice and open the commercial export of white rice as soon as possible.

The commercial export of white non-Basmati rice has been banned since July 2023. Similarly, an export duty of 20 percent is applicable on Sela rice from August 2023. Officially,

the export of white rice continues. In January, the government had set a quota of 30 lakh tonnes of white rice export, but so far only 10 lakh tonnes of shipment has been possible.