Govt to notify exports of 6.5 LT wheat products soon

The government will soon allow exports of wheat products like atta, suji and maida, although the ban on wheat exports is likely to remain in force in the wake of delayed monsoon.     

"The Commerce Ministry has approved the export of 6.5 lakh tonnes of wheat products which will be notified anytime by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)," an official said.     

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.     

An Empowered Group of Ministers on food in the previous government had agreed to allow exports of wheat and wheat products up to 20 lakh tonnes after May 15. The ban was imposed in early 2007.     

However, the decision to allow wheat exports seems to have been deferred for now as the government wants to assess the foodgrain requirement for the proposed Food Security Act.    

On May 25, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had said: "I don't want to go in a hurry for lifting ban on export. Because, if the government is going to take the responsibility to supply a particular quantity to everybody at a particular rate, first I will have to see my stock position".    

"The decision on lifting ban on exports needs careful deliberation," he had said, adding that the government might consider allowing export of wheat products.