Still unsure of its ability to procure wheat from the market, the Centre has extended the tender dates for import of 1 million tonne wheat.
India is world's second-biggest wheat consumer. Traders will have until May 21 to submit offers for the tender, which was originally scheduled to close on May 10, the State Trading Corporation said on its website, without giving any reason for extending the deadline.
The offers must be valid till 11 pm on May 30, it said. State Trading Corporation is importing wheat for the second year to bolster government stockpiles as domestic demand outpaces production.
The government's efforts to procure wheat through Food Corporation of India and other agencies for its Public Distribution System had flopped with the agencies failing to collect any substantial quantity in any state.
India may buy 5 million tonnes of wheat from overseas this year. The government may have delayed import plans to get a clear picture on its procurement said market analysts.
The tender in the middle of harvest itself was to put pressure on farmers to sell to the government.
Meanwhile, 53,000 tonnes of imported wheat is still lying at different ports to be taken to godowns, out of the 54.13 lakh tonne that arrived in the country till May 3, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
