'Rice'ing fortunes

PREDICTIONS of the Union ministry of
agriculture foresee India as the third
biggest rice exporter in the world in the
next financial year after the us and
Thailand. It is estimated that rice
exports will cross the two million tormes
mark by March next year. Said Balrarn
Jakhar, minister for agriculture, "We
have ensured abundant availability to
domestic consumers, and now our goal
is to boost foreign exchange earnings
and ensure remunerative prices for
farmers."

Indian rice delights many a palate in
Bangladesh, Middle East, Europe and
Africa. Eight consecutive good up
soons and the liberalisation of exp
meant that India exported 900,
tonnes of all varieties of rice in 1994
Farmers are growing crops specific
for export and are also using tech"
to increase the rice yield accorditq
agricultural ministry officials.

India's rice glut has come at
opportune moment with the inten
tional market in a fix with floods
Thailand leading to lower rice avz
bility. Vietnam is seeking to lower
exports which means that India can
in its place. Overall, India has show
spectacular growth in the agriculture
sector with exports increasing to Rs 200
billion in 1994-95 front Rs 47 billion
1990-91.