| Date: |
17-07-2010 |
| Subject: |
Tax or no tax on wheat imports? EGoM to decide |
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“We will review at the next meeting of the EGoM whether or not to impose tax on wheat imports and will discuss allowing export of certain varieties of non-basmati rice,” Food Minister Sharad Pawar said here on Friday.
There has been a two-year ban on export of non-basmati rice. Some States have requested the Ministry to allow export of a particular variety of rice grown in Kerala, for which there is demand in the Gulf countries.
The Empowered Group of Ministers on Food would also look into the Food Ministry's proposal to increase wheat allocation to States under the Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS) and consider reducing the OMSS price in States where lifting of stocks was poor.
In 2009-10, the country produced a record 80.98 million tonnes of wheat against 80.68 million tonnes the previous year.
Source : The Hindu
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