India has not yet received Iran's response on wheat import

NEW DELHI: India has not yet received Iran's response on importing wheat after its delegation visited various states in the country to check the quality of the grain, Food Minister KV Thomas said today.

India lifted ban on wheat exports in September 2011 on the back of record production in the two consecutive years. To clear surplus stocks, it allowed export of 2 million tonnes of wheat from the central stocks.

"An Iranian delegation consisting of experts from its laboratories visited various states in India to examine the quality of wheat. We are yet to hear from them," Food Minister KV Thomas said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

There is a proposal for export of wheat to Iran and other Middle East countries. However, the Iran Plant Protection Authority has phytosanitary restrictions on import of wheat due to presence of 'karnal bunt' disease, he said.

The Indian wheat also has traces of karnal bunt in some regions, he added.

The two-member Iranian delegation was in India for a week till June 18 to check the quality of wheat. The delegation had taken the samples of Indian wheat.

Asked if wheat export from the government stock would affect the allocation to ration shops, Thomas said, "No sir. Since sufficient stocks far in excess of buffer norm are available in the central pool, the proposed export of wheat from the government stock would not affect the allocation under PDS and other welfare schemes."

Due to bumper crop, the government's godowns are overflowing with foodgrains stock of 76 million tonnes so far, against the storage capacity of 71.4 million tonnes.

Iran is keen on importing the Indian wheat now, but faces the hurdles of quality guidelines. Suspecting a fungal disease, Iran in 1996 had banned Indian wheat. The West Asian nation had suspected that Indian wheat was infested with 'Karnal bunt' -- a fungal disease.

Last year, the country had harvested a record 93.90 million tonnes of wheat due to good monsoon.