The current uncertainty in the wheat sector not withstanding, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) says India could end up becoming a wheat exporter in 3-4 years as the acreage for the crop has risen over the years and more and more farmers are cultivating the crop. | |
| "India will become a wheat exporter as the wheat growers are getting a good price for their produce, which will enthuse them to go for much greater acreage," IFPRI Director Ashok Gulati said. |
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| He said the decision to allow private purchase of the wheat has enabled farmers to sell a large chunk outside the government agencies which had led to a low procurement of 9.2 million tonne this year. |
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| Gulati, however, underplayed impact of wheat import after a span a six years and said even during 2005-06 India exported 7.46 lakh tonne of wheat and two million tonne during 2004-05 with an export subsidy. |
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| "We should not get unduly perturbed by temporary wheat imports scenario and it would be desirable to have a clear cut import and export policy," he said, adding that India has been exporting wheat for the last seven years barring this year. |
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| On rice exports, Gulati said India exported 5.07 million tonne of rice (both basmati and non-basmati) during 2005-06 as against 4.78 million tonne during the previous year and 3.41 million tonne in 2003-04. |
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