Bengal exporters get relief as Centre lifts ban on non-basmati white rice

Stakeholders of West Bengal's rice industry on Saturday heaved a sigh of relief after the Centre removed the ban on overseas shipments of non-basmati white rice.The government's move is expected to help reopen 500-600 rice mills in the state, which had been closed for the past one year due to a slump in demand in the wake of export restrictions, Bengal Rice Mills Association president Sushil Kumar Choudhury said.The lifting of the ban on exports will also enable farmers to fetch better prices over the minimum support price (MSP), he said."The removal of the export ban will not only boost the operation of rice mills but also improve the average realisation for farmers, which had been subdued in the past year. Of the 1,400-1,500 mills in West Bengal, 500-600 had been closed due to weak export demand and mounting losses," Choudhury told PTI.On average, each mill directly and indirectly employs around 500 people, he said.Earlier in the day, the government removed the blanket ban