Ban Impacts Farmers as SEA Seeks Free Rice Bran Exports
Edible oil body urges lifting export ban.
The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) has issued an urgent plea to the government to lift the export ban on De-Oiled Rice Bran (DORB), set to continue until September 30, 2025, to safeguard domestic processors, boost farmers’ incomes, and reclaim lost global markets. In a statement released, the edible oil industry body highlighted the ban’s detrimental impact on the agricultural and processing sectors.
SEA has appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh. The association urged the government to end the restriction, which was first imposed in 2023, to revive the industry and support rural economies.
Before the ban, India exported 5-6 lakh tonnes of DORB annually, valued at approximately Rs 1,000 crore, primarily to Asian markets. These exports helped stabilize feed and milk prices. However, SEA noted that the ban has failed to achieve its intended goals. “Protein meal prices have plummeted by nearly 50 per cent, yet milk prices continue to rise, and DORB prices have fallen to Rs 10,000–11,000 per tonne,” the association stated, underscoring the ban’s ineffectiveness.
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The export restriction has severely impacted rice bran extraction units and rice mills, leading to reduced incomes for farmers. Additionally, India has lost valuable export markets to substitutes like Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) and maize, weakening its global competitiveness. SEA argues that lifting the ban would revitalize exports, enhance farmer returns, create rural employment, and improve capacity utilization in processing units.
By allowing DORB exports, the government can deliver a “win-win” solution for farmers, processors, and the economy, SEA emphasized. The association’s call to action highlights the need for immediate policy reform to support India’s agricultural sector and restore its position in the global market.
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