Government rules out lifting ban on wheat export

NEW DELHI: The Centre has ruled out lifting the ban on wheat exports but said the shipments of the foodgrain through diplomatic channelswillbeconsideredonacaseto-case basis. India, the world’s second-largest wheat producer, banned wheat exports in May 2022 as part of measures to control rising domesticprices.

Asked if wheat exports will be allowed, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said, “No chance at all.” The Government is supplying some quantity of wheat to a few countries like Nepal and Bhutan via a Government-to-Government trade arrangement. “We will take a call if thereisarequestfromtheMinistryof External Affairs,” he added. Citing reasonsforcontinuingtheexportban, Additional Secretary of the Food Ministry Subodh Kumar said India is not a traditional wheat exporting nation. However, the Country exportedwheatinthelastthreeyears owingtosurplussupplies.

Thecountryexportedwheatinthe rangeof2-7milliontonnesannuallyin the last three years. Last year, wheat exportswere5milliontonnes,hesaid. “The wheat production remained lower during last year because of climatic reasons. However, production this year is higher than last year and availability is expected to be 10 million tonnes more when comparedtolastyear,”hesaid.Thisis required for local consumption and to make available wheat at reasonable prices in the domestic market, he added.