India to fully supply rice needs: Senegal's Wade
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade today said India would furnish the west African nation, where there have been protests against rising food prices, with its full supply of rice needs for the next six years.
By Agencies |
DAKAR: Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade today said India would furnish the west African nation, where there have been protests against rising food prices, with its full supply of rice needs for the next six years.
Despite India restricting exports to premium long grain basmati rice on April 1, Wade said on national television that he had got New Delhi's assurance of a supply of 600,000 tonnes annually for the next six years.
"I have received a message from India's prime minister, following my request for rice supply to meet the full needs of national consumption," Wade said.
"Having consulted with his government, he told me that India will supply all Senegal's rice requirements, in other words 600,000 tonnes annually for six years."
India is the world's third largest rice exporter. Wade added that the six-year timeframe would allow Senegal to develop rice cultivation in a bid for self-sufficiency, adding that the country's population should show "a bit of patience" ahead of stocks arriving.
There was no further detail from Dakar as to how Senegal had managed to reach such an agreement.
However, New Delhi hosted an Indian-African summit on April 8 and 9 and accorded preferential status to African nations in need of rice stocks.
Wade said on Monday that there was neither famine nor hunger riots in Senegal, blaming a recent rally -- heavily cracked down on by police -- on opposition groups.
While he has said the army will protect the Indian rice, he also launched last week a plan for an agricultural revolution.
Despite India restricting exports to premium long grain basmati rice on April 1, Wade said on national television that he had got New Delhi's assurance of a supply of 600,000 tonnes annually for the next six years.
"I have received a message from India's prime minister, following my request for rice supply to meet the full needs of national consumption," Wade said.
"Having consulted with his government, he told me that India will supply all Senegal's rice requirements, in other words 600,000 tonnes annually for six years."
India is the world's third largest rice exporter. Wade added that the six-year timeframe would allow Senegal to develop rice cultivation in a bid for self-sufficiency, adding that the country's population should show "a bit of patience" ahead of stocks arriving.
There was no further detail from Dakar as to how Senegal had managed to reach such an agreement.
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However, New Delhi hosted an Indian-African summit on April 8 and 9 and accorded preferential status to African nations in need of rice stocks.
Wade said on Monday that there was neither famine nor hunger riots in Senegal, blaming a recent rally -- heavily cracked down on by police -- on opposition groups.
While he has said the army will protect the Indian rice, he also launched last week a plan for an agricultural revolution.
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