Govt sets
target of three million tons for rice export
ISLAMABAD-The government has set a
target of three million tones for the export of rice this year
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Nazir Saeed said here
on August 13.
Speaking in a PTV programme, he said that the country exported
a record 2.4 million tons rice in the last year, which was a
great achievement in presence of big rice exporting countries
in the world market. The marketing of rice including basmati,
irri-6 was conducing in an well organised manner in the world
market, he added.
The Joint Secretary said now the perception of Pakistani rice
is going up and added in the area of marketing we are doing
exceptionally well and more markets are being explored. Saeed
said present government intends to explore best markets of
rice on the best possible price of the rice.
He said farmers should work hard to increase the rice
production because rice exporters have assured to export more
than three million tons this year. To a question he said the
record export of rices was achieved owing to government's
decision to adopt an open market mechanism. With the passage
of time, exports started showing good results with the country
becoming competitive in the international market, he added.
The Joint Secretary praised the efforts of the Rice Exporters
Association of Pakistan (REAP). He said now there is a better
coordination between the Ministries of Agriculture and
Commerce as compared to previous years, adding, however, we
still have challenges like improvement in the yield and we are
working on it.
To another question he said work is also going on in the
projection of Pakistani brands name of rice in the world
market he added that the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has
taken various measures in this regard.
Furthermore efforts on various level are underway to capture
maximum share of rice exports in the world market, he added.
In this respect, he said, commercial attaches at Pakistan
Missions in various countries have been given specific
targets, who are actively working for the promotion of rice
exports in the respective regions.
The condition of rice crop in the country is satisfactory and
hopefully yield will be better he said and added the fixed
target for rice export will be achieved. Saeed said to uplift
the quality of rice, cultivation of 386, variety of rice was
banned and zoning system was introduced particularly in
Punjab, in a bid to boost the country's rice exports. These
measures will bring improvement in control and purity of the
commodity, besides, betterment in the price which will
eventually support the farmers and growers.
august 14
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