| Date: |
04-11-2014 |
| Subject: |
NAFED invites EoI for import of 25,000 tons of potatoes |
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NEW DELHI: Cooperative firm NAFED has invited expression of interest (EoI) from global suppliers for immediate import of about 25,000 tonnes of table potatoes.
Potato prices have shown a rising trend during the recent weeks and the commodity is being retailed at Rs 30-35 per kg in the national capital region.
The government had last month directed NAFED and the Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) to import potatoes to improve the domestic supply in the coming months.
"NAFED has invited EoI from reputed importers for immediate import of table potatoes of 45 mm to 85 mm in size. The EoI will be opened on November 5," a senior Agriculture Ministry official said.
The quantity has been fixed at 25,000 tonnes. Suppliers will require to supply the quality potatoes from Asian and European nations and the shipments should reach Delhi, according to the EoI advertisement.
A call on whether to float import tenders will be taken after looking at the price quotation of global suppliers and the domestic supply situation, the official added.
To make potato imports viable, the Agriculture Ministry has sought from Finance Ministry to bring down import duty on the kitchen item from the current 30 per cent to zero.
In June, the government had imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 450 per tonne on potatoes to increase domestic availability and cool prices.
The stock of stored potatoes is getting exhausted and therefore the government has decided to import to boost availability till the new crop arrives from January-end.
India produced 44.3 million tonnes of potatoes in 2013-14 crop year, down 2.3 per cent from the previous year.
Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com
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