Burma, which has imposed a temporary ban on rice exports after heavy rains and floods hit the northern and western regions of the country, may not resume rice exports until November, local sources said, quoting an announcement by the Ministry of Commerce.
Formal sanitary and phytosanitary agreements on rice standards with Burma will assist China in legalising the rice trade between the two countries.
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Whether Burma can re-establish itself as one of the world’s major rice exporters really depends on if it can complement its reducing domestic demand for rice with addressing stagnating rice productivity.
Burma needs more modernized rice milling units to up exports of high-quality broken rice, industry association says.
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Burma plans to replace white rice with parboiled rice for local consumption due to its health and cost benefits.
In an effort to restore Burma as a top world rice exporter, critics of the government have advocated for improving and revising current rice policies and export regulations, says industry analyst Oryza.
Rice production in Burma may decline by up to 40 percent from last year in some states due to flooding and insect attacks.
Chinese and Indian businessmen have struck deals with Burmese farmers’ representatives to grow and procure rice in Burma in 2013-14 to benefit from low prices in the country.
The Burmese government and the International Rice Research Institute sign a new MoU this week aimed at boosting rice production and improving other aspects of the rice sector.
