JOIN USAiming to clear the surplus stock in godowns, the Centre on Thursday decided to allow additional exports of up to 25 lakh tonnes of wheat from its own stocks.
The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) also decided to continue exports of wheat and non-basmati rice through private trade. The ban on exports of these items through private trade was lifted in September last year in view of bumper output.
Exports continue
“The CCEA has approved an additional export of wheat from Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns. Though the Cabinet did not mention any specific quantity for exports there was an agreement to review exports once the shipments touch 25 lakh tonnes,” a source said.
Exports of surplus wheat will ease storage problems. The government at present has a wheat stock of 40.5 million tonnes, almost double the stipulated buffer stock requirement of 21.2 million tonnes, sources added.