Govt may allow export of 1.3 mn tonnes of wheat products

The Centre may allow private traders to export 1.3 million tonnes of wheat products in two equal tranches.

The Commerce Ministry has approved export of 650,000 tonnes of wheat products like flour, suji and maida, which will be notified anytime by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), a senior official said.     

The decision for the second tranche would be taken after reviewing the situation arising out of late monsoon, he added.     

In February, an Empowered Group of Ministers on food in the previous government had agreed to allow exports of wheat and wheat products up to 2 million tonnes after May 15. The ban was imposed in early 2007.     

However, the government seems to have deferred the decision to allow wheat exports for now as it wants to keep stock for the proposed National Food Security Act and instead is in favour of permitting only the wheat products exports.     

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) will monitor these exports to ensure that the ceiling of shipments is adhered to, he added.     

India has produced bumper wheat crop during last two seasons that helped the Centre in procuring record foodgrain. In 2007-08 season, the country produced a record 78.57 million tonnes and in last season, the production is estimated at 77.63 million tonnes.