India's Government on Thursday approved in-principle a proposal to lift an over two-year ban on shipment of wheat and wheat products after elections. The decision was taken at a meeting of empowered group of ministers headed by External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, reported the PTI. The elections are due in April and May. The government however did not lift the ban on export of non-basmati rice.
According to an official source two million tonnes of wheat would be allowed for exports and a committee of secretaries, headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, would work out the modalities of the exports and notify to this effect after the elections.
The empowered group of ministers ruled out export of non-basmati rice and turned down the industry's demand for lowering the minimum export price of non-basmati rice. The government banned the exports of wheat in February 2007 and that of non-basmati rice in April last year to boost the domestic supply and contain price rise.
Source : RTT News.