Punjab Government had decided to retain the Market Development Fee (MDF) and the Rural Development Fee (RDF) on the Basmati variety of paddy at 2%. Disclosing this here, Chief Minister cleared the file to pave the way for retention of these fees on Oct 09. The decision follows a request from the Punjab Basmati Exporters, which had urged the CM to retain the fees at the existing rates in order to encourage Basmati cultivation and to help sustain competitiveness of the industry in domestic and international Basmati trade viz-a-viz other Paddy producing states.