India to decide on fresh wheat imports next month

PANAJI: India will decide next month if it needs to buy more to build buffer stocks, a senior government official said on Saturday.

"We will review the situation and take a call if there is a need to import more wheat," the official, who did not wish to be identified, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference.

India's overseas purchases this year have been at sky-high prices and have been heavily criticised by opposition parties and the government's communist allies.

The country has already contracted to import 1.3 million tonnes of wheat so far in 2007. It bought 5.5 million tones in 2006.

Last week, Farm Minister Sharad Pawar said the country may not import any more wheat this year, casting doubt on his earlier position that imports of around 5 million tonnes would be needed.

The official said the government could consider floating small import tenders every month if it once again went to the market.

India is likely to produce 75 million tonnes of wheat in 2007, up from 69.3 million tonnes last year.