'Ban on rice export may damage rural economy'

The Basmati Growers Association, protesting rumours of ban on rice export has urged the government to stay away from interfering in the rice trade. The Association's President, Chaudhry Hamid Malhi fears that at the time of sowing of paddy such a step could result in lesser production. He said that rice production in the country was double of domestic requirements.
Malhi said that pressing of rice price would only damage the farmers as how they would meet the increasing cost of production. He claimed that seven million farming families were attached with rice growing besides businessmen.
At an emergent meeting of the Basmati Growers Association, Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar was urged that benefit of increasing prices of rice in the international market should reach to the farmers as any sort of negative step would damage the rural economy.
It said that rice production, which was 3.9 million tons in 2001-02, reached 5.5 million tons in 2007-08 because of farmers' efforts. It said it was a record 40 percent increase. The meeting urged that while talking any decision, consultation with farmers' organisations should be ensured.