Govt to ban wheat, non-basmati exports

Concerned over the impact of deficient rainfall on agricultural productivity, the government today said it would stop all exports of non-basmati rice and wheat. This was announced by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in the Rajya Sabha.

Elaborating the measures to tide over the situation, Pawar said exports of non-Basmati rice and wheat, which was allowed through diplomatic channel, would be completely banned.

“We are going to stop it,” he said, replying to a Calling Attention Notice. While the private exports of non-Basmati rice and wheat had remained under ban for long, the government had allowed limited exports through diplomatic channels. A decision to allow export of 2 million tonnes of wheat and another 2 million tonnes of rice was taken by a group of ministers earlier this year.

Pawar, however, allayed fears of a grain shortage. “Stock position is quite comfortable. We have sufficient stock position for 13 months in our kitty,” he said. While Pawar was worried over the runaway rise in prices of Arhar dal to Rs 95-100 a kg, he said: “This will be a temporary phenomenon”. As on July 1, the Food Corporation of India (FCI), government’s grain procurement and distribution agency, had stocks of 52.63 million tonnes (32.92 million tonnes wheat and 19.61 million tonnes of rice).

On the progress of rains, Pawar said: “Monsoon this year has been weak and erratic in its progress and distribution, resulting in late sowing of crops.” He said states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Assam and Manipur are likely to be affected by the deficient rainfall.

Stating that the deficiency in rainfall has come down to 19 per cent as on July 23 from 62 per cent in June, he said: “This week, the situation will further improve.”

On the impact of monsoon on crops, Pawar said he was concerned over paddy. “Rice area and productivity may be adversely impacted which could be compensated to some extent by cultivating oilseeds, pulses and some coarse cereals in additional areas,” he said.