The standing rice crop in India's flood-hit areas may have suffered some damage and there is no proposal to allow exports of any more non-basmati rice varieties, a government statement said on Wednesday. The government this month allowed overseas sales of the premium Pusa-1121 variety, raising hopes it might allow overseas sales of some other grades.
Restrictions on rice exports have been in force since April as prices surged on tight supplies. The statement said the farm ministry was attempting to gain a clear picture of damage to the rice crop across the country. Food Corp of India, the country's main grain procurement agency, started buying rice paddy from farmers on September 22, ahead of the usual date of October 1, it said.