Date:24/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/24/stories/2008042455421200.htm

National

Pawar: No wheat import this year

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Union Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday appeared confident of procuring up to 170 lakh tonnes of wheat this year against a target of 150 lakh tonnes.

“I am confident of procuring 160-170 lakh tonnes of wheat this year,” he said while inaugurating the State Agriculture Ministers’ conference here. In the last 10 days, the average procurement in Punjab and Haryana is 99.6 per cent of the market arrival of wheat in these States.

The government has so far procured 86 lakh tonnes of wheat this season. In view of the positive sign in procurement and good production, Mr. Pawar ruled out importing wheat this year.