Against the backdrop of poor agricultural output owing to bad monsoon this year, the Indian government is planning to import rice in order to meet domestic food requirement, said media reports.
Rice output this year has dropped by around 15 million tonnes.
The country's Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said Tuesday that the government has already begun reaching out to governments of other nations for rice import to overcome shortage on the domestic market.
"Talks have started. Prices will be negotiated," the minister said. He added that Thailand is one of the countries India is talking to in this regard.
According to him, the issue of rice import is likely to be discussed by an "empowered Group of Ministers" (eGoM) on November 20. Headed by the country's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the eGoM will also review the price situation of food items.
Meanwhile, India's public sector undertakings (PSUs) have already floated global tenders for rice import, but the prices quoted are on the higher side.

Kuna