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India to export levy-free rice to Bangladesh |
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October 6, 2000
New Delhi (UNB) - Indian state of Uttar Pradesh will free from levy all varieties of rice to export mainly to Bangladesh and Nepal for the next five years. In a revised rice policy, the UP government has decided to provide the same facilities to coarse rice meant for export as was so far available only for Basmati variety. UP is a traditional exporter of Basmati to many countries. The state cabinet in a meeting on Wednesday observed a market is available for the export of other varieties to Nepal and Bangladesh. The government has now decided to export non-Basmati varieties also, though such export does not bring in convertible currency. The provision of levying on rice is 4.5 percent tax of which 2 percent in the form of trade tax and 2.5 percent as "mandi" tax. With the new decision, exported rice would be free from these taxes. For UP, the largest state in India, the paddy production this year was estimated to be to the tune of 21.3 million tonnes as against 19.36 million tonnes last year. Corresponding rice production is likely to reach the level of 14.2 million tonnes as against last year's production of 12.9 million tonnes in UP where wheat is the main food. |