Apart From Rice, India Also Stops Exporting Garlic To Sugar

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan revealed, India will stop exports of a number of foodstuffs such as garlic, onions and sugar. Previously, this country had also stopped rice exports.

Zulhas, Zulkifli Hasan's nickname, admitted that he was aware of the Indian government's policy after making a working visit to the G20 agenda in India.

Initially, Zulhas said rice production in India was recorded at 7 million tons.

Meanwhile, the country's needs are a total of 4 million tons. There are remaining 3 million tons. However, the Indian government still prohibits exports.

"What about the rice? Indeed, this rice is about the psychological impact of El Nino, India has banned rice exports, even though there are 7 million rice. I just returned from India, he has 7 million rice, the stock is 4 million more than enough for their cover, 3 million can be exported but still prohibited," he said in a meeting with Commission VI of the DPR, Monday, September 4.

Apart from rice, said Zulhas, India will also ban exports of sugar, garlic and onions. Zulhas assessed that the steps taken by the Indian government will affect the world's volatile food prices.

"Now India will also ban sugar. If that's the case, the psychological impact will be great," he said.

"Garlic is very expensive. India prohibits the export of garlic, now including onions, it cannot be exported. So there will be turmoil (price) onion," he continued.

Zulhas said India's decision to stop the export of a number of foodstuffs was to secure its domestic supply.

This is because food prices in the country are in turmoil and cause high inflation.

"India will elect India, the inflation is quite high, if I'm not mistaken, it's almost 8 percent. Therefore, by all means, the Indian government related to exports will be prohibited, so that the price can go down, inflation can be controlled. Because the enemy of all inflationary governments," he said.