Govt allows export of 3 LT of rice, wheat to B'desh, Nepal

NEW DELHI: The government has allowed export of 3,00,000 tonnes of rice and wheat through diplomatic channels to Bangladesh and Nepal.

"There was some request from the External Affairs Ministry for additional quantity (of foodgrains for export) to Bangladesh and Nepal and we have accepted that," Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told reporters on the sidelines of an ICAR function here.

Recently, the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) on food, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, had approved export of 1,00,000 tonnes to Nepal and 2,00,000 tonnes to Bangladesh, he said.

Asked if the government will export foodgrains at lower prices, Pawar said, "That (about price) was not communicated to me and ultimately the decision will be taken by the External Affairs Ministry."

At present, the government godowns have 57.8 million tonne foodgrains. India has imposed a ban on rice export and wheat export to contain domestic prices. The ban on rice was imposed in April 2008 and that on wheat in February 2007. But the ban was relaxed now and then on diplomatic grounds.

In May, the government had allowed the export of 4 lakh tonnes of wheat to Bangladesh from the central pool at Rs 15.43 a kg. Earlier, in February, export of 50,000 tonnes of the foodgrain was allowed to Nepal.

The country is estimated to have produced 89.13 million tonnes of rice and 80.71 million tonnes of wheat in 2009-10.