Need to step up grain exports

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLKATA, SEPT. 12. India had already shipped four million tonnes of foodgrains to Oman, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria and Bangladesh out of the targeted exports of five million tonnes. An order from Iraq is expected soon.

The Government had decided to continue with the export initiative, said Mr. Bhure Lal, Chairman, Food Corporation of India (FCI), while addressing the members of the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce here. Exports were a pressing need because stocks of 63 million tonnes have piled up in addition to the 30 million tonne buffer stock, he said.

Mr. Lal stressed on the need for a separate pricing policy for domestic and international markets, in line with other exporting nations.

Elaborating on the food policy, he said ``Over time the minimum support price has become a vote catching device", misutilised by the political administration against the interest of FCI and the nation, and added that the opinion of experts often goes contrary to the political decision.

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