Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that basmati rice exporters are in severe distress, with shipments worth over Rs 2,000 crore stuck and payments stalled due to growing uncertainty in Iran. He added that mandi prices have also crashed following the disruption in trade with Iran.
He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for urgent intervention to protect the interests of farmers, millers and exporters. Sandhwan stated that the prolonged delay is adversely impacting Punjab’s economy, and basmati rice exporters are facing serious difficulties as a result.