IFAD Multi Products Ltd, an associate company of IFAD Group, has sought government permission to export around 5,000 metric tonnes of aromatic rice to different countries in the next one year.
However, statistics show that on average, the annual export of aromatic rice was only 7,500 metric tonnes in the previous times.
IFAD Group Chairman Iftekhar Ahmed Tipu on Thursday submitted an application to the commerce ministry’s senior secretary in this regard seeking a lift of the ban on rice export to pave the way for the resumption of the export.
According to the IFAD Multi Products Ltd, one of the country’s largest agro-based products marketers and exporters, they are exporting various products to different Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain as well as to India, Bhutan, Singapore, Malaysia, United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).
IFAD informed that the country’s aromatic rice has a good reputation abroad while the demand of rice is also worldwide. In the past, aromatic rice was exported to various countries with a good reputation.
Despite the demand, the export of aromatic rice is stopped for the last one year due to the government’s temporary ban.
As a result, the marginal farmers of the country are deprived of the fair market price and if this continues, they will be discouraged to produce aromatic rice in the future.
Due to the ban on rice export, the country is deprived of earning foreign currency which is having a negative impact on the national economy.
Considering these issues, the IFAD Group chairman has requested the commerce ministry to lift the ban on the aromatic rice export. He has sought permission to allow IFAD Multi Products Ltd to export 5000 metric tonnes of aromatic rice within the next one year.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held at the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) on Tuesday regarding the granting of permission to export aromatic rice, with BTTC Chairman Md Faizul Islam in the chair, where the representatives of exporting companies participated.
After discussion in the meeting, it was decided that the commerce ministry will consider the issue of allowing the export of aromatic rice on a case-to-case basis.
Besides, BTTC will prepare an analytical report and give it to the ministry to ensure the export of aromatic rice in the next export policy.
It was learnt that according to the existing export policy, all types of rice are on the list of prohibited products. But the commerce ministry gives export permission for aromatic rice on a case-to-case basis after reviewing the local production and demand.
The food ministry on February 9, 2022, requested the commerce ministry to impose a temporary ban on the export of all rice in consideration of the local rice stock.
Following the request of the food ministry, the commerce ministry temporarily suspended the export of aromatic rice on June 29, 2022. Since then, the aromatic rice export is stopped in the country.
However, BTTC chairman in the meeting said that this year, there is a bumper yield of rice in the country, so if the government considers rice export, there is little possibility of a negative impact on the government’s rice stockpiling.
In the meeting, the representative of Square Food and Beverage Md Parvez Saiful Islam said that 2 per cent of locally produced aromatic rice is exported.
If the rice export is stopped, the country will lose the foreign market. Once the market is grabbed by other countries, it will be difficult to recover, he said.
He also demanded to allow continuous export of aromatic rice instead of case-to-case export.
Department of Agriculture Extension Director Dr Md Rezaul Karim informed in the meeting that 18.35 lakh metric tonnes of aromatic rice are produced in the country annually and only 7,500 metric tonnes used to be exported annually.
He said the exports are very low compared to the production. The export of aromatic rice does not have a negative impact on the general consumer’s demand. So, if its export is allowed, there will be no problem.
ACI Food Director Faria Yasmin said that the export of aromatic rice is linked to the export of other consumer goods. Exports of ACI Foods have decreased by 50 per cent due to the stoppage of aromatic rice export.
As the issue of food safety is not related to the export of aromatic rice, it is necessary to allow its export, she said.
In the meeting, Prashant Kumar Ghosh, assistant general manager (AGM) of Bombay Sweets and Company, said that due to the ban on the export of aromatic rice from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are grabbing the market. If this continues, export will not be possible to the countries if the government delays to lift the ban.
So, the export permission needs to be given on a case-to-case basis, he said.
Food Ministry Deputy Secretary Md Mahbubur Rahman said the food ministry had recommended the ban on all rice export in view of food safety. As the country is producing rice as per demand this year, the government may consider the export of aromatic rice on a case-to-case basis. In the meeting, Commerce Ministry Deputy Secretary Tania Islam said if there is no objection from the food ministry, the commerce ministry will reconsider the export of aromatic rice export.
