Most Indian kitchens are incomplete without a can full of non-Basmati Rice. With attributes such as high carbohydrate content, high-fibre, and pearl-like grains, it’s been a popular ingredient in Indian households. Even Indian expatriates find answers to their desi meal cravings in non-Basmati rice.
Here are some stats. The Statista reports that “over 3.5 billion US dollars of basmati rice was exported from India in fiscal year 2022. Other rice varieties amounted to over six billion dollars of export value that same year. A rise in non-basmati rice exports was seen in the country from the previous fiscal year.”
Naturally, Indian expatriates are a disillusioned lot, following India’s ban on the export of non-Basmati white rice.
The government prohibited the export of non-basmati white rice, following the notification of the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT). “Export policy of non-basmati white rice (semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed)…is amended from free to prohibited,” the DGFT said.
The export will also be allowed based on permission granted by the government to other countries to meet their food security needs and government requests, it added.
According to a report, expatriate Indians in the United States and Canada have started to hoard non-Basmati rice. Stores are experiencing a sudden rise in non-Basmati rice demand, particularly from South Indians. Expectedly, this has led to long queues outside grocery stores that are selling non-Basmati rice at double the price.
Some NRIs took frantically to social media to give an idea about the desperation among NRIs to buy rice stock in the US.
