Our Economic Bureau

New Delhi, June 11: The government has decided to export 30 lakh tonne (lt) of rice and 4.35 lt of maize from the central stock in the year 2001-02. Addressing a press conference in the Capital on Monday, the Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution Shanta Kumar said that the exports of wheat and rice, though restricted by quota, were now decanalised and the private sector would be allowed to participate. The quantitative ceiling for export of wheat has been raised from 20 lt to 50 lt in the current year.

The government will give wheat and rice to exporters at half of the total economic cost incurred by the central pool in procuring and storing and transporting grains. Accordingly, wheat will be given to exporters at Rs 430 per quintal, raw rice at Rs 565 per quintal and par-boiled rice at Rs 600 per quintal. Government is hopeful that this type of subsidy is sufficient to export grains from the central pool.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been authorised to export 4.35 lt of maize. However, if the FCI is able to get a better price by selling in the domestic market, it is allowed to do so.

Mr Kumar said that since December 2000, the total quantity of wheat contracted for export was 32,27,217 tonne out of which 26,87,562 tonne had been actually lifted by the exporting agencies from FCI go-downs. The quantity actually shipped up to May 31 was 23,44,555 tonne. Wheat has been exported to Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Philippines, South Korea, UAE and Yemen.

He said that recently the government has issued a notification to exporters to complete their quota of previous year’s exports by June 30 and the total export quota for the previous year has been raised to 50 lt.