Lower global wheat production not to affect India

India will not be affected by the lower global wheat output projected for the current financial year due to adequate stocks, Lok Sabha was told today.

There is surplus availability of wheat in the country than the estimated requirements, Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas said in written reply.

The International Grains Council in its Grain Market report dated October 28 this year has projected global wheat production during 2010-11 at 643.9 million tonnes.

This is compared to estimated production of 677.2 million tonnes during 2009-10, shortfall of 33.3 million tonnes, he said, adding there was no worry for India.

As per the fourth advance estimates of production of foodgrains for 2009-10 released by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, estimated wheat production in the country during 2009-10 (Rabi marketing season 2010-11) is 80.71 million tonnes, he said.

With this level of production together with the opening balance of 16.12 million tonnes of wheat in the Central pool as on April 1, 2010 availability of wheat in the country is more than the estimated requirements, he said.

Therefore, lower global production of wheat is not likely to affect domestic availability of wheat, Thomas said.  

In reply to a question, the minister said there was no no proposal under consideration of the government at present to ban import of wheat by private mills.