Long-Term Grain Export Policy Soon

Top commerce ministry sources said that the committee of secretaries of the concerned ministries, including food, agriculture, civil supplies and public distribution and commerce, has already deliberated on the policy and have submitted certain recommendations. Based on this, the commerce ministry is making a final draft for approval of CCTI. At present, exports of these items are ad hoc and are based on surpluses available for export from year to year. It has now been decided that a steady export policy is necessary. The need for a stable policy has been felt in view of commitments made by exporters and the orders in hand. At times, the exporters have failed to meet orders as the export quota is uncertain. There are instances of withdrawal of quotas due to domestic shortages.

 

For instance, wheat export allotment of 3 million tonnes was announced for this year.

However, with the domestic shortages mounting, it was decided to limit the total exports for the year to 1 million tonnes. As a result, a total of 1 million tonnes is being permitted so far in 1996-97, 5 lakh from FCI and 5 lakh tonnes from private traders. The ministry is looking at a stable agricultural export policy in view of the next Exim policy. Sources said the government was working on fixing a certain percentage of the total output of a product as the exportable limit.

5 lakh t sugar export quota

Sources in the commerce ministry said the sugar export quota for the current year was likely to be set at 5 lakh tonnes in view of present production estimates. Sugar exports during October-September 1995-96 were about 1 million tonnes. This was against a production of around 164 lakh tonnes.