Exports of key food items decline

During April-December 2007-08, exports of rice and sugar increase, while those of wheat, pulses and oilmeals decreased over the previous year, the government on Wednesday informed Parliament.

On account of export bans, wheat exports fell sharply to 240 tonnes in April-December 2007-08, from 47,830 tonnes in the previous financial year. 

UP MOVE Percentage rise in prices of essential commodities
Commodity	24/03/07	22/03/08
Rice	5.60	8.30
Wheat	6.80	3.40
Pulses	12.60	-2.30
Sugar	-12.50	-1.90
Edible oil	13.30	21.20
Source: Department of Consumer Affairs

More over, exports of pulses , too, dropped to 1,40,830 tonnes in the first nine months of 2007-08. In the same period of 2007-08, oilmeals exports dropped to 4.03 million tonnes, from 6.59 million tonnes.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh said rice exports stood 4.77 million tonnes during in April-December 2007-08,.

In addition, exports of sugar stood at 2.98 million tonnes. Ramesh also said the second advance estimates of production in 2007-08 showed that rice, pulses, edible oil production was expected to be higher than 2006-07, while that of wheat and sugar would be marginally lower.

"The second advance estimates of production for 2007-08 shows that production of wheat is expected to be 74.81 million tonnes . For sugarcane, it is expected to be 3,403.22 million tonnes in 2007-08, in 2006-07," Ramesh said.