| Date: |
22-10-2011 |
| Subject: |
EGoM Decide Sugar Exports in 1st Week of Nov: Food Minister |
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New Delhi: An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Food is expected to take a call on sugar exports in the 2011-12 marketing year in the first week of November, reports PTI quoting food minister K V Thomas.
The previous meeting was deferred as the food ministry had not firmed up its decision on sugar exports in the absence of correctproduction estimates for the sweetener for the year.
“I am meeting the officers of the agriculture ministry in a day or two to reconcile the sugar production estimates.
Based on that, I will prepare a note on sugar exports by the month-end. In the first week of November, the EGoM may take a decision on this,” Mr Thomas told reporters after releasing the Operations Report of Food Corporation of India for 2010-11.
While the food ministry has pegged sugar production in the 2011-12 marketing year (October-September) at 24.6 million tonnes, the agriculture ministry’s forecast is slightly higher at 25 million tonnes. The industry estimates are even higher, at 26 million tonnes.
“I will verify sugar output figures. We want to be advised by the agriculture ministry on this issue,” he said.
Asked if the government will allow wheat and rice exports from government godowns which are overflowing with huge stocks, the minister said, “No. We want to be cautious.”
He explained that the government procures only 30% of the country’s production and cannot allow exports as it has to maintain foodgrain stocks of up to three years for implementation of the proposed National Food Security Act.
The minister further said it makes no sense to permit exports from government godowns as the remaining 70% of the country’s production is sold in the open market.
Last month, the government allowed the export of 2 million tonnes each of wheat and common rice under the open general licence (OGL) scheme.
Presently, the central pool has foodgrain stocks of around 60 million tonnes owing to the high level of procurement in the past three years.
Last year, foodgrain production stood at a record 241.56 million tonnes.
Source : moneylife.in
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