Rice is sorted in a factory in Makhu, in the Indian state of Punjab, on March 12, 2021. Countries worldwide are scrambling to secure rice after a partial ban on exports by India cut supplies by roughly a fifth. Even before India’s restrictions, countries already were frantically buying rice in anticipation of scarcity later when the El Nino hit, creating a supply crunch and spiking prices. (PHOTO / AP)

NEW DELHI - The Indian federal government has imposed a 20 percent duty on the export of parboiled rice, officials said on Saturday.

The order was issued by the Ministry of Finance on Friday evening with the aim of checking the price rise while ensuring ample supplies in the domestic market.

The imposition of a 20 percent duty on the export of the parboiled variety is likely to push global prices further

As per the notification, the export duty shall come into force with immediate effect and will remain applicable until Oct 16, 2023.

With these new curbs, India has now imposed restrictions on all varieties of non-basmati rice, which constitutes about 25 percent of India's total rice exports.

The imposition of a 20 percent duty on the export of the parboiled variety is likely to push global prices further.

ALSO READ: IMF urges India to lift rice export ban amid inflation concerns

Last month, the International Monetary Fund encouraged India to remove restrictions on the export of a certain category of rice, saying it would have an impact on global inflation and exacerbate volatility in food prices in the rest of the world.