'Do not panic buy': Here's what India's rice ban means for Canada
CTV
A sweeping ban from India on rice exports prompted panic buying across Canada. While shortages have been noted at some grocery stores, experts say stockpiling is unnecessary.
After a poor growing season in June and July, India banned the export of non-basmati rice to trade partners including Canada last week.
The government of India published the notice last Thursday, explaining that a late seasonal start to monsoon rains harmed crops and prompted fears of a production shortfall in the country, Reuters reported.
The sweeping ban impacts all non-basmati rice, including short- and medium-grain rice such as Sona Masoori, Jeera Samba and Matta.
Across Canada, there are mixed views on the impact, with some grocery store owners from B.C. to Newfoundland telling CTVNews.ca they have lots of non-basmati rice in stock, and others having to limit the number of products per customer to prevent stockpiling.
Experts say the ban prompted some Canadians to start panic buying, which could increase the price of types of rice not impacted by the ban.
There are not widespread reports of rice flying off the shelves in Canada due to the ban, but in the U.S., the rice ban caused scenes of people climbing shelves to reach backstock products and fighting over rice.
Rice of India, a company that exports basmati rice across the world, says on its website that India has more than 10,000 varieties of rice, but basmati only equals about one per cent of India's production.
