Banning wheat exports will strengthen food security of India and countries facing deficit: Commerce secretary
India Today
The Indian government announced on Saturday that it is banning wheat exports to control domestic food prices and strengthen the country's food security.
The Indian government has decided to ban wheat exports on Saturday. A statement released by the government said that the decision to restrict wheat exports will control food prices, strengthen the food security of India and countries facing a deficit, and that India remains a reliable supplier as it is honouring all contracts.
The commerce secretary BVR Subrahmanyam while speaking at a press conference said that all export orders where the letter of credit has been issued will be fulfilled. He added that directing wheat exports through government channels will help in fulfilling the needs of India’s countries and food-deficit countries and also control the country’s inflationary expectations.
He said that the control order serves three main purposes: “It maintains the food security for the country, it helps others who are in distress, and maintains India’s reliability as a supplier.”
The Government of India's decision to restrict wheat exports will: Control food prices Strengthen food security of India & countries facing a deficit Prevent export in unregulated manner Maintain India’s reliability as a supplierhttps://t.co/PSgJjiWL9O
He said that the government’s order on exports gave a clear direction to the wheat market. “We do not want wheat to go in an unregulated manner in places where it might just get either hoarded or it may not serve the purpose of serving the food requirements of vulnerable nations. That’s why the government to government window has been kept open,” he said.