Leading UAE retailers said India's export ban on non-basmati white rice would not have an immediate impact on them as they have sufficient reserves.
India banned the export of some varieties of white rice last month to curb rising prices in the local market after heavy rain disrupted the sowing season.
Last week, the UAE took the step of announcing a suspension of rice exports for four months, including rice brought in from India, a move designed to safeguard consumers from inflation and shortages.
We already have our own sourcing offices across the world that ensure uninterrupted supply
V Nandakumar,
Lulu Group
The country’s biggest retailers told The National that rice supply was adequate as they kept at least at least six months of essential commodities in reserve.
Some stores in Dubai and Sharjah that specialise in Indian products temporarily placed a two-bag limit on sales of white rice.
India’s export ban does not apply to basmati rice, a long-grain variety better known overseas.
Bertrand Loumaye, country manager of Carrefour at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, said there was no supply disruption and no limits placed on the purchase of rice.
The retail giant does not directly export or import rice in the UAE but sources the grains locally.
“We work very closely with local and regional distributors to stock up on rice across our stores for our customers,” Mr Loumaye said.
“Carrefour maintains six months’ worth of essential commodities in stock. Furthermore, we share an open relationship with our distributors and suppliers and have not been notified of any changes in supplies or operations.”
Mr Loumayhe said the group had “full confidence” in UAE authorities with whom they worked closely to meet the country’s food security needs.
Abu Dhabi-headquartered supermarket chain Lulu also said price stability was a priority and there were adequate reserves in stock.
“The recent restrictions on rice export from India and re-export from the UAE is not having any adverse effect on us,” said V Nandakumar, director of marketing and communications at the Lulu Group.
“We already have our own sourcing offices across the world that ensure uninterrupted supply and price stability.”
Mr Nandakumar said there were no restrictions on the quantity of rice customers can buy.
“As one of the leading players in the grocery retail sector, food safety and security has always been our key priority and with this in mind we always maintain sufficient stocks with a more than six-month supply,” he said.
Two packets per customer
A popular Indian store, Al Adil, temporarily placed notices in shops to alert customers that they would only be allowed to buy two packets of some varieties of white rice.
“In order to ensure continued availability to all our customers, we are imposing a temporary limit on Peacock surti kolam rice and ambe mohar rice purchase effective immediately: Maximum two pieces per transaction, applies to both 2kg and 5kg packaging,” said a sign in an Al Barsha store.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. We greatly appreciate your understanding and co-operation. Updates will be provided as we continue to monitor the situation.”
The restrictions were lifted on Tuesday.
“We were initially not sure of how much quantity we had but there is no limit on purchase of rice now in our stores,” said Dhananjay Datar, managing director and chairman of Al Adil.
“We have plenty of stock for the next six to eight months. There is enough rice in the market and we can also bring in rice from suppliers in other countries like Thailand, Pakistan and Vietnam.”
Heavy rain hits paddy fields
India is the world’s largest rice exporter and accounts for more than 40 per cent of global rice exports.
Torrential rain flooded paddy farms in June and disrupted the sowing of rice in several Indian states, with the government keen to keep a watch on the harvest.
The country’s export ban on non-basmati white rice varieties until November worried global markets already shaken by high food prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Experts said the move was aimed to protect the underprivileged who depended on rice as a staple food.
Dipa Sinha, an assistant professor at New Delhi’s Ambedkar University, said a poor wheat crop for two consecutive years resulted in the grain being substituted with rice in India's food distribution system.
The massive public distribution system provides subsidised food grains to 800 million people.
“Rice is the staple for two thirds of India’s population and this year we are seeing an inflation in rice,” said Ms Sinha, who works in the field of public policy, food rights and nutrition.
“The ban is to ensure the public distribution system does not face a crisis and prices within India don’t go up further because that would cause hardship to a lot of people.”
Vinod Kaul, senior executive director of the All India Rice Exporters Association, said supplies to the Middle East and Africa would be hit.
“Supplies will dry up in several countries – that is anticipated to be the impact and when supplies are short, prices do shoot up,” Mr Kaul said.
“Of India’s total rice export, about 36 per cent is white rice.
“Many countries depend on white rice, particularly in the Middle East that has a big expatriate Indian population and around 50 countries in Africa import rice from India.”
Heavy rain could affect rice yield and is among the reasons for the Indian government’s decision.
“Any government will be concerned about the food security of its population,” he said.
“There are worries that unseasonal heavy rains during the rice sowing season in June may have damaged crops so the export ban is a precautionary measure by the government.”
The decision will be reviewed in November.
“India’s harvesting season is mid-October to November and the government will be regularly monitoring the situation,” Mr Kaul said.
“By September, the government will have a clear idea if there is a drop or it is a normal situation and then they will review it.”
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
MO
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Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.
It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
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- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
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- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
