| Date: |
23-05-2011 |
| Subject: |
Sharad Pawar Rules Out Wheat Exports |
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Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar says he has not heard of wheat prices falling below the Minimum Support Price of Rs. 1,750 per quintal even as the Committee for Agricultural Costs and Prices chairman Ashok Gulati says distress sale of wheat at as low as 1,000 rs is taking place in parts of Gujarat, Bihar and eastern UP.
“We will have to ask the food ministry... If there is any such situation, we will definitely talk to Food Corp of India,” Pawar told reporters at an event on Monday.
Pawar said the excess wheat is not to be opened for export until it is assessed how much grain will be needed for distribution under the National Food Security bill.
The glut and the fall in farmers income could snowball into agri loan defaults that will hurt the banking sector already burdened by bad debts.
Source : livemint.com
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