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India to push up grain, sugar exports
Monday, 01 September 2003, 19:30 IST
NEW DELIH: India is to boost foodgrain and sugar exports to retain its niche in global markets, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Yadav said here Friday.
"Though our foodgrain position is now comfortable and there is no longer any problem of excess stocks, we have decided to continue with the exports to retain our established markets," said Yadav, addressing the Editors' Conference on Social Sectors on its concluding day.
Within just three years of commencing exports, India is selling wheat in 32 countries and rice in 55 countries.
In the case of sugar, the government has targeted doubling exports from 1.5 million tonnes last year.
"We have decided to export on a war footing three million tonnes of sugar to help the industry and ensure that farmers and consumers also do not suffer," said Yadav.
Despite good exports, India will begin the new sugar year from October with a buffer stock of 13.9 million tonnes against 14.1 million tonne stocks in October last year.
In the case of grain, "distress sales have stopped and now we are not so anxious to sell at lower prices," a senior food ministry official told IANS.
This has seen the government reduce the subsidy on stocks supplied to exporters to bring prices to a level close to market rates.
Last year faced with overflowing silos containing 64.8 million tonnes of stocks, India had desperately attempted to push exports even as it combated a severe drought in 15 states.
"We are currently very comfortably placed with the stock position at 29 million tonnes. With our total storage capacity of 61.03 million tonnes, we are well placed to handle the fresh flow of kharif (summer) grains from October," said Yadav.
According to the minister, by clearing overflowing stocks, the government would not only save 
60 billion as carrying costs but prevent damage during storage.
"The current stocks in our warehouses are of the best quality," Yadav maintained, adding that the inspection mechanism had been strengthened to ensure there were no complaints from retailers and consumers.
Buoyed by a good monsoon, India is expecting a bumper kharif production this year and will be procuring 20 million tonnes of rice beginning October, when the harvest begins. Last year, the government had procured 15.8 million tonnes of rice from the kharif yield.
As against 67 million tonnes of kharif rice production last year, India is expecting 77 million tonnes this year.
Source: IANS
60 billion as carrying costs but prevent damage during storage.
"The current stocks in our warehouses are of the best quality," Yadav maintained, adding that the inspection mechanism had been strengthened to ensure there were no complaints from retailers and consumers.
Buoyed by a good monsoon, India is expecting a bumper kharif production this year and will be procuring 20 million tonnes of rice beginning October, when the harvest begins. Last year, the government had procured 15.8 million tonnes of rice from the kharif yield.
As against 67 million tonnes of kharif rice production last year, India is expecting 77 million tonnes this year.
Source: IANS