Rice News Today: GMO Issue, Ufshi Rice And Shipping Charges

Rice News Today highlights Rice exporters look for Goyal’s intervention for GMO issue, Ufshi rice raises hopes, and Basmati rice exporters urge govt action on shipping

Rice exporters look for Goyal’s intervention on the China GMO issue

A rice exporters’ body of Chhattisgarh has appealed to the Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to intervene and protect their interests, seeking the government’s intervention for the revocation of the temporary suspension of the three Indian companies by China on a false allegation. While referring to the rejection of non-Basmati rice consignments by China, the exporters’ body said in a statement that, in view of the seriousness of the situation, the Rice Exporters Association of Chhattisgarh (TREACG) has made an urgent request to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to intervene and safeguard the interests of Indian rice exporters. The rice exporters' body expressed a serious concern over the ongoing issue of alleged GMO detection in Indian rice consignments exported to China and claimed that the particular move has caused substantial financial loss to exporters. On April 16, APEDA informed three Indian rice exporting companies that they have been temporarily suspended by GACC (China’s customs department) in connection with the GMO issue.

Ufshi rice raises hopes among farmers in Gopalganj

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute developed a newly introduced high-yielding Ufshi rice variety, BRRI-108, which is boosting optimism among farmers in Gopalganj and nearby districts after producing a bumper yield during the current Boro season. Bangladeshi Farmers are increasingly showing interest in cultivating BRRI-108 due to its high productivity, fine grain quality, and favourable market price. Moreover, the variety matures within 149 to 151 days and, with proper care, can yield more than 8.7 tonnes per hectare. Not only this, but it is also less susceptible to common pests and diseases compared to conventional rice varieties, making it a cost-effective option for growers. In addition, Dr Amina Khatun, Chief Scientific Officer at BRRI’s Gopalganj Regional Office, stated that the institute is working in Gopalganj, Bagerhat, and Narail to boost rice production and strengthen national food security through high-yielding and hybrid varieties. BRRI-108 has been cultivated on 63 hectares of land across these districts during the current Boro season. One of the farmers, with the name Rabindranath Biswas from Borashi village in Gopalganj Sadar upazila, reported higher yields compared to traditional varieties. He said that previously, I used to harvest 30 to 35 maunds per bigha, which took nearly 160 days.

Basmati rice exporters requests govt action on shipping charges amid the West Asia crisis

On Monday, April 27, Basmati Rice Farmers and Exporters Development Forum (BRFEDF) urged the government to take urgent action against what it described as arbitrary and opaque shipping charges that have made exports commercially unviable for many traders. The forum stated that the war-risk surcharges have ranged from $800 to $6,000 per container, often imposed without prior notice or revised after cargo has already moved. In some cases, cumulative charges have climbed to 60 to 70 per cent of the cargo value. Forum Chairperson Priyanka Mittal said in a statement that the exporters are effectively being asked to absorb open-ended financial liability for circumstances entirely beyond their control. Moreover, the West Asia crisis has prompted shipping lines to divert cargo to ports including Jebel Ali, Sohar and Salalah, hold containers at transhipment hubs with no clarity on onward movement, and in some cases return containers to origin ports. Not only this, but exporters also say they bear the full financial cost of these decisions despite having no say in them. In addition, BRFEDF demanded that the ministry link charges strictly to services rendered, require shipping lines to release containers without tying returns to disputed fees, and establish lucid guidelines for cargo handling during geopolitical disruptions.