The lack of progress towards the goal of “Zero Hunger” highlighted in the report on “The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2024” by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on July 24 reminds us of the ban that the Indian government imposed on the export of non-basmati white rice on July, 20, last year. Although, subject to government approval non-basmati white rice export to some countries was permitted to meet their food requirements
Rice is a staple food for half the people on earth. This ban, therefore, left global rice markets in a perilous state. The government stated that the ban would “ensure lower prices and availability in the upcoming festival season”. Another suggestion was that the ruling BJP had introduced the ban in order to control increasing rice prices due to the general election. Now, the election is over, and the BJP has remained in power with the help of its allies. It has been a year since the export ban was imposed, and it is time to evaluate how this decision has affected global rice markets.
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