Govt to import rice to keep market stable

The government has planned to import rice, if needed, by reducing import duty to keep the local market stable and prevent price manipulation.

There has been a bumper production of crops this year and farmers are getting fair prices, said a food ministry handout yesterday.

If the rice market is destabilised despite this and millers make delay in supplying rice to government warehouses defying deals with them, the government will import rice, if necessary, by reducing import duty, the handout added.