India asks Malaysia to explore bulk wheat buy

With surplus wheat stocks, India has asked Malaysia to explore the possibility of importing the grain in large quantities from the country.

India, the world's second-largest producer, is grappling with problem of plenty after an estimated record output of 90.23 million tonne in the 2011-12 crop year (July-June).

“I made a suggestion to Malaysia to consider importing wheat in bulk from India,” Food Minister K V Thomas said after meeting Malaysia’s plantation industries and commodities minister.

India is working on options, including wheat exports, to ease a storage crisis, which is mounting, as rice and wheat stocks in the government godowns have already crossed 70 mt, against the storage capacity of 63 mt.

The government's foodgrain stocks have risen due to record procurement in the last few years following bumper production.

The Malaysian delegation is on a six-day visit to India to strengthen bilateral relations.

Bilateral trade between India and Malaysia touched a record $12.5 billion in 2011.