Pakistan's rice exports have surged by 22.57 percent to $1.4 billion during July-February FY13-14 against $1.1 billion during the same period last year. Pakistan has exported some 2185753 thousand ton rice during July to February 2013-2014 against 2142303 thousand tons during the same period of FY 12-13. Basmati rice exports increased by 6.08 percent to $411.992 million during July to February-14 compared with $388.380 million during the said period of previous year. However, basmati exports quantity was reduced by 9.06 percent as it was some 366136 thousand tons during the said time period as against 402612 thousand tons during July-Feb2012-2013.
Similarly exports of non- basmati rice witnessed a massive surge as some $1.03 billion were earned during July to February against $794.723 million in the same period of last year. The non- basmati export quantity increased by 4.59 percent or 1819617 thousands ton in the said period compared with 1739691 thousands ton in the previous corresponding period.
"Cost of doing business hit rice industry hard," a rice exporter said. He said that prices of fertilizers and power tariff increased manifold which has affected rice exports. The local prices of rice are higher as compared to international prices; the slight surge in value of rice export is just because of the exports of basmati rice, he added.
Although the government claims to allocate a huge amount of subsidy to the farmers, but due to lack of transparency, almost all farmers remain deprived of subsidy "The Government's subsidy model is not farmer- friendly.", he added.