New Delhi: Major rice exporters India and Vietnam announced on Friday they will curb rice exports in an effort to combat food inflation.

India raised the minimum sale price by more than 50 per cent to protect domestic supplies, while Vietnam said it will cut rice exports by 22 per cent this year.

The latest move threatens to heighten worldwide anxiety over the dwindling availability of staple food supplies to meet growing demand.

Egypt said earlier this week it will ban rice exports from April 1 to October to hold down local prices.

The Philippines aims to import up to 2.2 million tonnes this year in what could be the biggest overseas purchase in a decade.