-SATISH HANDA
Clash going on between USA and Iran has adversely affected rice exporters in Haryana state because their payments worth Rs 1800 crore has been blocked. According to information, Iran is one of the biggest buyer of rice, especially Basmati rice having nearly 35% share in total export of rice in the country as a result not only rice exporters in Haryana but also farmers in the state are suffering since huge stocks of Basmati rice have not been lifted by the exporters so far lying in the custody of farmers as well as in grain markets due to sudden brake over transactions. According to information, few rice stocks of rice are lying at the port or stuck up in transit.
Pankaj Goel General Secretary of All India Rice Exporters Association said, rice exporters are facing severe crisis in the absence of receipt of payments of rice stocks already despatched to Iran. He said, rice exporters are likely to suffer further losses due to increase in the rates of just arrived crops of Basmati and type 1131 rice also in demand in Iran lying in the grain markets. Goel said, Indian exporters had supplied nearly 14.5 lakh Metric Ton rice to Iran during previous year 2019 and rice industry in the country has been worst affected due to present business crisis not only as a result of payments held up but also two-third drop in sale during present peak season. Goel further added that Indian exporters used to procure fuel from Iran in past years in exchange of supply of rice to Iran earlier but this year import of fuels from Iran has been discontinued which adversely affected export of rice to Iran this year.
According to National Vice President of Indian Rice Exporters Association and president of Iran Rice Export Committee Satish Goel, rice growers are likely to suffer heavy loss this year due to drop in the prices of Basmati rice due to poor lifting of rice for exports and there is also possibility of Iran may shift procurement of some quantity of Basmati rice from Indian exporters to Pakistan also a producer of Basmati rice. Rice exporters as well as growers have made an appeal to Government of India to handle the situation enabling our rice exporters and farmers not to suffer sale in this regard.
