India banned non-basmati white rice on July 20, 2023. This is done to keep retail prices in check and meet the shortages at home. As a consequence, Indians living in the US are hoarding white rice. The price of rice has increased by 11 per cent in the US. Maison Town, Ohio, has placed a cap of 20 pounds per head, costing approximately $24. Ohio has a considerable population of people from the Indian diaspora. In Texas, which has a larger population of Indians, the price of a 20-pound bag of white rice increased to $34. In India, the cost of white rice increased by three per cent last month and about 12 per cent over a year. India has been facing an uneven monsoon this year. While some parts of the country experience surplus rainfall, others face drought.
The Directorate of Foreign Trade (DFFT) notified that it had moved non-basmati white rice from the 'free' to 'prohibited' category. The category includes semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether non-polished or glazed, comprising about 25 per cent of all the rice exports from the country. However, in India, the exporters' businesses will not be affected, as India continues its export of non-basmati or par-boiled rice, and basmati rice, which constitutes the majority of the exports.
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