India prepare to import rice from Burma

Surajit Khaund
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

August 11, 2003: In a significant development, the Indian Government likely to import rice from Burma soon. The Committee on Long Term Food grains Export and Import Policy has recommended the Indian Food Ministry of importing rice from Burma to curtail the transportation cost.

The Committee's report said” Food Ministry should closely monitor the stocks scenario and prepare rice and wheat budget every year”.” If there is any shortage of stock and there is any transportation bottleneck then the Ministry can import rice from Burma, the report said.

It may be recalled that the Manipur government ,bordering Burma had submitted a proposal of importing of 50 lakh tonne of rice from Burma annually to curtail the transportation cost.

But the Indian Food and Civil supplies ministry in view of buffer stock in the country turned down the proposal.

But this year poor monsoon has affected the food grain production in the country and hence the committee has recommended the government to import rice from Burma .