New Delhi : Uttar pradesh, which is facing the problem of surplus rice, is set to start exporting common and grade one rice. The Centre has allowed this facility to the state government as a special case, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Narendra Singh has said. On its part, the state government has simplified the procedure for issuing of the export permit to the exporting parties, he said.The exporting rice has been freed from any government levy. He said that at this stage it is not possible to give out estimates of the rice that the state would be exporting over the year. This is being arranged with the assistance of the rice millers association, he said. Mr Singh said that the Centre has agreed in principle to extend a Punjab/Haryana like package to help the rice growers in Uttar Pradesh. (UNI)
The minister has said that special care has been taken that the rice is sold in the state at a price not less than the support price of Rs 510. And this has paid dividends, he claimed.
He said that out of the proposed 1,602 purchase centres to be opened in the state for purchase of rice, 1,550 centres had already become operative. Barring three or four mandis of the state the growers have received support price for their produce, he added said.
He said that during 1999-2000, rice to the tune of 62,000 metric tonne had been purchased in the state. This year 1.64 lakh metric tonne of rice had already been purchased, he said. Rice mills in the state have purchased a total of 58,4822 metric tonne, he said
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