No change in rice export policy: Union Minister Piyush Goyal

Hyderabad: Union Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal has made it clear that there will not be any change in policy relating to exports of rice for now. He said the government will have to keep national food security in view and the country needs over 100 million tonnes of foodgrains every year to support 80 crore, poor people. 

The minister said under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana, every individual is being given 10 kg of rice or wheat per month.

The minister interacted with members of the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) in Hyderabad last evening. He explained that there is suspicion that foodgrain production may drop in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar due to heavy rains this time. However, he said this is yet to be confirmed as the procurement season is underway.

Mr Goyal urged upon the members of the FTCCI, to be partners in making the country a developed one by 2047 as part of Panch Praan, proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Emphasising the collective duty in this direction, the minister asked them to nurture product marketing and support each other to ensure the Make in India programme is a success. 

He asked them to allocate at least 5 per cent of their budget for One



product- One District to help people in remote areas to get transformational results towards self-reliant India.

The commerce minister emphasised the need to enhance quality to tap international opportunities and asked them to make standards in quality control a part of the work culture. Referring to quality controls for the jewellery sector which were formed about 20 years ago, the minister said however, they were not implemented. 

Following the Government's efforts during the past two years, he said now over 250 districts in the country have hallmarking centres and 90 per cent of jewellery is hallmarked now. Referring to exports, the minister said the exports this year are likely to touch 750 billion dollars as against 675 billion dollars last year.

Mr. Goyal asked the cotton industry stakeholders to discuss a strategy to ensure the traceability of cotton, get a better value of cotton products and to brand Indian cotton. He said block chain technology for enhancing the traceability of cotton from Farm to Foreign is under consideration and it will be tried on a small scale initially and later expanded. FTCCI CEO Khyati Amol, Deputy CEO Sujata, Industrial Development Committee Chairman Srinivas G. and others spoke.