New Delhi: India will import one lakh tonnes of rice from Myanmar. To avoid supply crisis in Manipur and Mizoram due to the construction work on the railway lines connecting these two north-eastern states to other parts of the country, 20,000 tonnes of rice will be imported per month starting October.
This will be the first time in almost three decades the country will import rice.
The State Trading Enterprises (STEs) on behalf of Food Corporation of India (FCI). will float an exploratory tender on September 8 to evaluate market prices.Â
Despite having sufficient stocks, the government has to import rice as the work is in progress to broad gauge the railway line between Lumding and Silchar in Assam.
To meet the requirements of Mizoram and Manipur, which have deficient paddy production, the FCI will have to move the grains via road ranging 400-600 km.Â
As on August 16, the country had 184.62 lakh tonnes of rice against the buffer stock of 72 lakh tonnes on October 1 this year. In addition to this, 74 lakh tonnes of un-milled paddy is also available in the country.Â