Centre not averse to importing wheat if situation warrants
Amid all-round concerns over rising prices of food items, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has said the government is not averse to importing farm commodities if the situation warranted.
By PTI |
CHANDIGARH: Amid all-round concerns over rising prices of food items, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Monday said the government is not averse to importing farm commodities if the situation warranted.
"When the question pertains to food security of our nation and if we find there is not sufficient (foodgrain) in our kitty after the end of procurement season, we will take a decision," Pawar told reporters here.
He said the government does not want that the situation of import arises in the first place but hinted that it would not hesitate (to import) when it comes to protecting consumers' interest.
"We are not happy to import agriculture commodity, be it sugar, pulses or wheat. However, we have to keep the interests of public in mind, a balance (in foodgrain stock) has to be maintained," Pawar said after his meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here.
The government has imported 18 lakh tons of wheat, 15 lakh tone pulses in 2007-08. Besides, the total edible oil imports stood at 47 lakh tons.
Following the shortfall in the wheat procurement which stood at 11.2 million ton during 2007-08, the government imported about 18 lakh ton of the grain to bolster the stock.
On fixing the prices of wheat taking global prices as benchmark rate, Pawar said if all the Chief Ministers of the states agree to it, then the Centre may think over it.
"Personally I feel we cannot accept this formula permanently," he added.
"When the question pertains to food security of our nation and if we find there is not sufficient (foodgrain) in our kitty after the end of procurement season, we will take a decision," Pawar told reporters here.
He said the government does not want that the situation of import arises in the first place but hinted that it would not hesitate (to import) when it comes to protecting consumers' interest.
"We are not happy to import agriculture commodity, be it sugar, pulses or wheat. However, we have to keep the interests of public in mind, a balance (in foodgrain stock) has to be maintained," Pawar said after his meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here.
The government has imported 18 lakh tons of wheat, 15 lakh tone pulses in 2007-08. Besides, the total edible oil imports stood at 47 lakh tons.
Following the shortfall in the wheat procurement which stood at 11.2 million ton during 2007-08, the government imported about 18 lakh ton of the grain to bolster the stock.
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On fixing the prices of wheat taking global prices as benchmark rate, Pawar said if all the Chief Ministers of the states agree to it, then the Centre may think over it.
"Personally I feel we cannot accept this formula permanently," he added.
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