Bengaluru: In a massive development that can boost the income of farmers from Assam, the export of red rice to the United States was flagged off. 

The specialty of red rice is that it is rich in iron and grown in the Bhahmaputra Valley of Assam. 

It is grown completely organically, which means no chemical fertilisers are used. It is a staple food of Assam. 

As per reports, the APEDA Chairman M Angamuthu at Sonepat, Haryana was part of the event. It has been promoting rice exports through collaborations with various stakeholders in the value chains. The government had set up the Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF), under the aegis of the APEDA. REPF has representations from the rice industry, exporters, officials from APEDA, the ministry of commerce, and directors of agriculture from major rice-producing states including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, reports PTI.
“We took several measures in terms of ensuring safety and hygiene because of the operational and health challenges posed by COVID-19, while ensuring that rice exports continue uninterrupted,” M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA has said, as quoted by PTI. 

The country's non-basmati rice exports have increased to Rs 26,058 crore during April-January 2020-21 as against Rs 11,543 crore in the same period last fiscal, the commerce ministry said on Thursday.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Chairman M Angamuthu said several measures have been taken in terms of ensuring safety and hygiene while ensuring that rice exports continue uninterrupted. 

"During April–January 2020-21, the shipment of non-Basmati rice witnessed an impressive spike. The non-basmati rice exports were Rs 26,058 crore (USD 3,506 million) during April-January 2021 against Rs 11,543 crore (USD 1,627 million) reported during April-January 2020 period," it said.