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NEW DELHI: The Government has no immediate plans to import rice as it has enough stocks to manage the demand, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

“The Government has assessed the stock position of rice and decided that import of rice for central pool is not required at this stage,” the Minister of State in Commerce and Industry, Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia, informed the Lok Sabha.

“However, if the trend of procurement shows shortfall, the Government may, at an appropriate time, decide to consider import of rice to ensure availability of rice in the domestic market at affordable price,” Mr Scindia said.

A shortfall of about 15 million tonnes in kharif production is expected due to inadequate rains in the country.

Last month, the Government had scraped three tenders for rice, totalling 30,000 tonnes, floated by the state-owned trading companies MMTC, STC and PEC.

The three companies had received bids with a price range of $372-598 per tonne.

Rice output is seen at 69.45 million tonnes in 2009-10 kharif season against 84.58 million tonnes in the last season. — PTI

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