Retail inflation, measured by the year-on-year consumer price index, reached 6.83% in August 2023, higher than the Reserve Bank of India’s upper tolerance limit of 6%. This surge was driven by soaring food prices. The government has implemented a series of measures, including an export ban on non-basmati white rice, export ban and stocking limits on wheat, a 20% export duty on parboiled rice, a minimum export price of $1,200 per tonne on basmati rice, etc, to contain food inflation. However, these abrupt and stringent market-depressing measures are impacting farmers’ income adversely. A more rational and dependable trade policy that balances the interests of producers and consumers while containing food inflation is advocated.
