The demand for the Indian non-basmati varieties of rice by China, which is the largest producer of rice in the world, has given a boost to the state industry. So far, eight exporters from the state have been supplying broken rice to China. The industrialists are expecting good prospects in coming days as well, as they have a good stock of broken rice owing to less demand by the liquor industry during the Covid-induced lockdown. Besides, the exporters say this year due to high-temperature in September, which has affected the quality, leading to more broken and less head rice recovery. “China itself is the largest producer of rice in the world, but it is for the first time in the last three decades that it has imported the produce from our country. We are supplying broken rice, which is available in a huge quantity this year. Traditionally, China was importing rice from Pakistan, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam,” said Vijay Setia, former president of the All India Rice Exporters’ Association (AIREA).
He said definitely the demand from China would boost the industry, which was facing several challenges. “Due to the climatic conditions this year, we got high quantity of broken rice. During the Covid-induced lockdown, the demand from the liquor industry, a major buyer of broken rice, was less due to which we have a huge stock available,” Setia added. Meanwhile, Ritesh Sharma, principal scientist of the Basmati Export Development Foundation, a part of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, said it was the results of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China, after which a delegation visited several rice mills. “It is a good sign for rice exports and it will definitely boost the local industry in coming days also,” he added.