SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday asked the Centre to review ban on the export of broken rice and also remove duty imposed on the export of non-basmati rice, saying the move will deprive farmers of reaping the benefits of high global prices of food grains.
In a statement here, Badal said the export ban as well as 20 per cent duty on the export of non-basmati rice were anti-farmer steps and should be addressed immediately.
The Centre recently imposed 20 per cent export duty on non-basmati rice and also banned the export of broken rice with an aim to increase domestic availability.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief said earlier farmers had been denied the benefits of an increase in wheat prices globally with the central government banning wheat export in May.
Farmers then desperately needed higher prices to offset the loss in yield because of the high presence of shrivelled grain due to early onset of heat wave. Now, when farmers stand a chance of reaping the benefits of high