Govt proposes setting a minimum level quantity for export of select agri-commodities

Government has proposed setting a minimum level of quantity for export of agri-commodities to help India become a firm player in the international market. Food Minister, KV Thomas said that government functioning on a system to have regular export-import policy on selected agri-commodities such as sugar, wheat and rice. He added that this policy will help both farmers and industry.

Sugar sector is the single industry which is fully regulated by the government from production through distribution in domestic and international markets. Food Minister said that it is expected to produce enough sugar to meet the consumption demand and will have a small exportable surplus. He added that the government will analyze the first estimation on sugar output by the end of this month in discussion with the state sugar commissioners.

The total export of sugar is 3.15 million tonnes so far this year. Further, about 2.5 million tonnes of wheat and more than 4 million tonnes of non-basmati rice have been exported since September 2011. India is likely to have produced 26 million tonne of sugar in the ongoing season 2011-12 (October-September) against the annual demand of 22-23 million tonne.