New boost for India’s rice exports

The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) welcomes the Union Budget 2026 announced by the Finance Minister of India, particularly noting measures that strengthen MSMEs, logistics infrastructure, and technology-enabled agriculture.

IREF commends the announcement directing central government procurement agencies to meet their requirements through the TReDS framework for MSMEs. This move is expected to improve payment discipline, enable faster receivable realisation, and facilitate access to lower-cost finance for small enterprises—a significant development for the rice sector, where a majority of traders, processors, and exporters fall within the MSME category.

The Federation also highlights the introduction of dedicated freight corridor connectivity to Surat, which is set to enhance export competitiveness by reducing logistics costs and improving reliability, particularly for shipments routed through key ports such as Kandla and Mundra. For exporters across North India, more efficient access to these gateways can translate into faster turnaround times and better price realisation for rice exports.

IREF further welcomes the launch of the Bharat Vistar system, leveraging digital public infrastructure and AI-enabled solutions to improve farming productivity. This development is especially relevant for India’s portfolio of GI-tagged and high-value rice varieties, enabling better aggregation, traceability, and quality consistency for international markets. Technology-driven interventions under Bharat Vistar can support yield improvements and strengthen the competitiveness of Indian rice globally.

The Federation looks forward to operationalising these announcements, enhancing the rice value chain, and supporting farmers, MSMEs, and exporters in consolidating India’s leadership in global agri-exports.