Risk of Rice Shortage Looms as Import Ban Persists

The Agriculture Ministry has yet to approve the removal of ban on rice imports, despite the green light given by the Market Regulation Headquarters. 
“Rice Importers Association put forth the proposal on reducing restriction on rice imports in the 141st meeting of the Market Regulation Headquarters attended by Industries Minister Alireza Razm-Hosseini and other officials, given the fact that only 150,000 tons of rice have been imported so far,” said Masih Keshavarz, the secretary of the association.
Every year, the government places a seasonal ban on rice imports in an attempt to support domestic production.
“Private sector suppliers of rice also have low inventory levels. Traders are also reluctant to import when the ban is in force. Therefore, the country is likely to face a rice shortage. On the other hand, producers claim that rice will be supplied to the market in the sixth month of the Iranian year [August 23-Sept. 22],” he was quoted as saying by ISNA.