GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 152

ANSWERED ON: 13.03.2012

EXPORT OF FOODGRAINS

JAGDISH THAKOR

ANANT KUMAR HEGDE

ARJUN ROY

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:-

(a) whether foodgrains have been exported from the country during the last three years;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the total stock of foodgrains, quantum of foodgrains allocated,

released and lifted for export during the said period, grain-wise;

(c) the quantum of foodgrains released and lifted under the Public Distribution System (PDS)

alongwith its issue price during the said period;

(d) whether the Government has permitted export of several food products from January, 2012; and

(e) if so, the details thereof indicating the names and quantum of the said products proposed to be

exported during the ensuing year alongwith the name of the organisation proposed to undertake the

said reports?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD &

PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a)&(b): Export of wheat and non-basmati rice from the country were stopped w.e.f. 9-2-2007 and 01-

04-2008 respectively. However, certain quantities of wheat and non-basmati rice were allocated for

export on diplomatic basis/ humanitarian aid to friendly countries from time to time on the

recommendations of the Ministry of External Affairs. Also, in the recent past, based on the requests

from several State Governments as well as representations from various Farmers/Rice Millers

Associations, the Government, after taking into consideration the record production, procurement and

comfortable stock position of rice and wheat in the Central Pool/country, has allowed export of nonbasmati

rice and wheat on private account under Open General Licence(OGL). Details enclosed at

Annexure-I

(c): Details enclosed as per Annexure-II.

(d)&(e): The Government has not permitted export of any new food product from January,2012

onwards. However, the Government on 7-2-2012 has permitted the export of additional 10 lakh tons

of sugar during the current sugar year under Open General Licence(OGL) Thus, the quantity of sugar

to be exported during the current year is 20 lakh tons by the Sugar Mills. The Government also

approved (a) Export of 10,000 tons and 8424 tons of sugar to the European Union and United States

respectively by Indian Sugar Exim Corporation (ISEC). (b) Export of sugar to fulfil commitments

under Export Promotion Capital Goods(EPCG) subject to quantitative sugar ceiling of 1.16 lakh tons

and (c) Re-export of 37,856.56 M.Ts of imported raw sugar stocks lying at Chennai and Kandla Port.