Chandigarh, July 13 -- An ongoing crackdown by Australia's biosecurity agency has severely impacted Indian basmati rice exports. As a result, hundreds of shipping containers have been barred from entering the country. This has left premium grain worth Rs.200 crore stranded at various ports.

"It began three months ago when the Australian agencies started checking the grain preservation system, which was found to be lacking," said an exporter from Haryana, who wished not to be named. "Now, the consignments have been stopped from entering Australia," he said.

"The regulatory agency in Australia, which functions under the department of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, has suspended 44 Indian fumigation service providers, exposing shortc...