Telangana Weighs Rice Export Policy As Fortified Rice Gains Push
Telangana was now the country’s leading state in both rice production and procurement and had begun exporting rice to the Philippines: Uttam Kumar Reddy
HYDERABAD: Telangana, which produces nearly 300 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of rice annually but consumes only about 36 LMT of it, is considering a dedicated rice export policy as the state looks to expand market opportunities for millers and strengthen its position in global rice trade.
Food and civil supplies minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the proposal while addressing a workshop, ‘Unlocking Market Potential: Advancing Fortified Rice in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh’, here on Monday. He said Telangana was now the country’s leading state in both rice production and procurement and had begun exporting rice to the Philippines.
“We consume barely one-tenth of the rice we produce. Exports represent the next major growth opportunity for Telangana’s rice industry,” the minister said, adding that the government was preparing a policy to help millers access national and international markets.
Calling fortified rice an emerging tool for improving nutritional security, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the product retained the taste and cooking characteristics of regular rice while helping address micronutrient deficiencies. “Health should not be a chore or a pill. It should be on your plate,” he said, adding that addressing nutritional deficiencies through food consumed daily could have significant social impact.
