The Hindu : Foodgrains export sets record

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 09, 2002

National

National

Foodgrains export sets record

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 8. There has been a dramatic improvement in the foodgrains offtake in the last three months, particularly as the foodgrains export has touched a record high.

During the 2001-02 financial year, 75.62 lakh tonnes of foodgrains valued at $742.08 has been exported.

This includes the export of 55.75 lakh tonnes of wheat and 19.87 lakh tonnes. According to the Union Food Minister, Shanta Kumar, the earlier highest export was of 28 lakh tonnes in 1996-97. There is no ceiling on the export of wheat and rice now.

India has exported to several countries including Egypt, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Korea, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Sudan, the UAE, Yemen, Vietnam, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Taiwan and Russia. Talks are on with Iraq to reopen talks for the export of wheat from India. Besides, 10 lakh tonnes of wheat remain committed to Afghanistan through the World Food Programme.

Offtake of foodgrains has gone up from 177 lakh tonnes last year to 343 lakh tonnes this year. The recent decision to lower the issue price of wheat and rice in the Targetted Public Distribution System is also likely to enhance lifting. Wheat at the rate of Rs. 5.10 paise a kg and rice at Rs. 7.30 paise a kg are prices lower than those in the open market to improve the offtake. Besides, allocation to a family of four under the TPDS has been raised from 25 kg to 35 kg in a month. Central Government schemes such as the open sale of foodgrains, the Antodaya scheme and the food-for-work programme in States affected by natural calamity have also paid off.

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