The food ministry is not against grains exports and a panel of ministers will decide on rice and wheat exports, food minister KV Thomas said on Wednesday,
without specifying any time frame. 'Food ministry is not negative to exports, but we will have to look at the demand in view of the Food Security Bill. We will place the issue before EGoM (Empowered Group of Ministers),' Thomas told reporters.
India could decide soon to allow exports of a million tonnes each of wheat and common rice as government stocks hit a record 65.6 million tonnes, well above targets, two government sources said on Tuesday.
India, one of the world's biggest producers and consumers of wheat and
rice, has kept a tight control over grain exports since 2007, allowing only overseas sales of aromatic basmati rice, to ensure it can provide cheap food grains to the poor.
Farm minister Sharad Pawar has called for grain exports with stocks overflowing after three years of bumper harvests and the onset of the monsoon has raised concerns stocks
outside could be
damaged, adding to pressure for sales.
Source : New Age
