The Nepalese government has requested the Indian government to supply paddy, rice and sugar as a precautionary measure so as to prevent any food scarcity during the upcoming festive season of Dussehra and Diwali.

Giving this information the Ram Chandra Tiwari, Joint Secretary Ministry of Commerce and Food Supplies said that “Nepal has requested India to provide one million tonnes of paddy, 100,000 tonnes of rice, and 50,000 tonnes of sugar,"

At present there is no shortage of these commodities in Nepal. But there is fear in Nepal that there could be a shortage in the coming festive months due to the Government of India’s decision to ban export of non-basmati white rice.

India, which is the largest exporter of rice in the world, banned the export of non-basmati white rice in July to boost domestic supply and keep retail prices under check during the upcoming festive season.

Dussehra and Diwali like in India is a major festival season in Nepal.

World’s No. 1 exporter of Rice

India is the largest exporter of rice in the world followed by Thailand and Vietnam.

Since 2011-12 India has been the number one exporter of rice in the world.

India is the second largest producer of rice in the world after China.

The major share in the rice export is of non-basmati rice. The total export of non-basmati rice in 2021-22 was USD 6.12 billion and basmati rice was USD 3.54 billion.

In 2021-22 Iran was the largest buyer of Indian basmati rice followed by Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.

In 2021-22 Bangladesh was the biggest buyer of non-basmati rice followed by Benin, China and Nepal.

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

It is a landlocked country in South Asia.

Currency of Nepal: Nepalese Rupees

Capital: Kathmandu

President: Ram Chandra Poudel

Prime Minister : Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda)