India lifts rice export ban to cyclone-hit Bangladesh
The announcement came after neighbouring Bangladesh appealed for international help earlier in the week to prevent a food crisis in the impoverished nation following the November 15 storm.
By Agencies |
DHAKA: New Delhi will allow cyclone-battered Bangladesh to import half a million tonnes of rice from India, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday, easing an export ban on the food staple.
The announcement by Mukherjee came after neighbouring Bangladesh appealed for international help earlier in the week to prevent a food crisis in the impoverished nation following the November 15 storm.
Mukherjee, on a one-day whistle-stop tour of cyclone-hit areas, said the "magnitude of the natural calamity" prompted India to remove the ban on rice exports to Bangladesh.
"India has decided to waive the ban on export of rice to Bangladesh for an additional 500,000 tonnes of rice," Mukherjee said.
India, the world's third-largest rice exporter, clamped a ban on rice exports two months ago in a bid to reduce soaring domestic prices of the food staple that were causing anger among consumers.
Bangladesh on Wednesday asked for half a million tonnes of food aid from the international community as fears mounted over possible shortfalls to feed thousands of people after the cyclone wiped out thousands of villages, damaged crops worth hundreds of millions of dollars and killed over 3,200 people.
India was also willing to help rebuild 10 devastated villages, Mukherjee said.
New Delhi had earlier promised 50,000 tonnes of food aid to Bangladesh and announced a waiver of ban on export of rice to Bangladesh for 50,000 tonnes.
The announcement by Mukherjee came after neighbouring Bangladesh appealed for international help earlier in the week to prevent a food crisis in the impoverished nation following the November 15 storm.
Mukherjee, on a one-day whistle-stop tour of cyclone-hit areas, said the "magnitude of the natural calamity" prompted India to remove the ban on rice exports to Bangladesh.
"India has decided to waive the ban on export of rice to Bangladesh for an additional 500,000 tonnes of rice," Mukherjee said.
India, the world's third-largest rice exporter, clamped a ban on rice exports two months ago in a bid to reduce soaring domestic prices of the food staple that were causing anger among consumers.
Bangladesh on Wednesday asked for half a million tonnes of food aid from the international community as fears mounted over possible shortfalls to feed thousands of people after the cyclone wiped out thousands of villages, damaged crops worth hundreds of millions of dollars and killed over 3,200 people.
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India was also willing to help rebuild 10 devastated villages, Mukherjee said.
New Delhi had earlier promised 50,000 tonnes of food aid to Bangladesh and announced a waiver of ban on export of rice to Bangladesh for 50,000 tonnes.
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