Disagreement over quantity holds back wheat export decision

Some CCEA members wanted govt to sell fewer quantity of wheat than the proposed 5 million tonnes

Some disagreements over the quantity of wheat to be exported from central pool through private traders seems to have held back decision on allowing an additional 5 million tonnes of wheat.

Officials said though the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) did meet in the morning to discuss the issue of extra wheat export, but no decision could be arrived at as some members wanted the government to sell fewer quantity of wheat than the proposed 5 million tonnes.

"The matter has been referred to a Group of Ministers (GoM) which is headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and it will meet at 1700 hrs today to take a another look at the matter," a senior government official said. India is planning to export another 5 million tonnes of wheat from the central pool to clear its warehouses ahead of new wheat harvest which will start from April 1,2013.

It has already exported around 4.5 million tonnes of wheat from government stocks as consecutive bumper harvest pushed up foodgrains inventory to record levels. As of February, 1 the government had around 66 million tonnes of foodgrains in its warehouses, more than double the required quantity.