Govt mulling to lift export ban on rice, wheat
Govt mulling to lift export ban on rice, wheat
New Delhi: The government is actively considering to lift the ban on rice and wheat export. However, it will take a final decision on the matter after ensuring that adequate foodgrain is available in the country to guarantee food security through a proposed new law, the new commerce secretary Rahul Khullar said on Monday.
“I am actively looking at that question right now," Khullar said, when asked whether government would lift the export ban on rice and wheat. “We have to take stock of the wheat and rice stocks in our godowns and the anticipated production of such foodgrain during Rabi," Khullar added.
The contours of the National Food Security Act were laid out by President Pratibha Patil in her speech to members of both Houses on 4 June. Under the proposed law, the government will provide 25 kilograms of rice or wheat per month at Rs3 per kilogram to every family below the poverty line in rural as well as urban areas.
The government had banned the export of wheat in February 2007 and rice in April 2008 to curb galloping inflation rate.
Khullar also turn down the “greenshoot hypothesis" of an economic think some of it are weeds," he said.
“I do not see a sudden rally around the corner. Exports are significantly down than last year. But I hope things would improve towards September or October," Khullar added.
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