New Delhi, Sept 22 : With prospects of good kharif output, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday expressed hope that the ban on export of non-basmati rice, which was imposed as a temporary measure, would be lifted soon.

Chidambaram said this after inaugurating new facility of rice exporting firm Tilda Riceland in Gurgaon in Haryana today.

The government had banned export of non-basmati rice in April as part of initiatives to check rising inflation that touched the 13-year high mark of about 12 per cent.

In view of record procurement of over 27 million tonnes of rice during 2007-08 season ending September, the government permitted export of Pusa 1121, a non-basmati variety of rice. (ANI)