India on Wednesday ruled out the need to import wheat this year, as it appears poised to surpass the 15 million tons procurement target.
"I am confident of procuring 16-17 million tons of wheat this year... As of now I don't see a need for import of wheat," Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar said, inaugurating the State Agriculture Ministers' conference in New Delhi.
In the last 10 days, the average procurement in Punjab and Haryana was 99.6 per cent of the market arrival of wheat in these states, Pawar said, adding that Food Corporation of India has so far procured 8.6 MT of wheat so far this season.
In view of procurement already reaching 60 per cent of the target, the minister ruled out importing wheat this year.
The government had imported 1.8 million tons of wheat last year after procurement declined to 11.1 million tons against the target of 15 million tons. The FCI procures wheat and rice for the Centre, which are supplied to people at discounted price through the public distribution system.
Pawar said the Centre will procure whatever quantity comes to its kitty. He hoped that there would be some reserve stocks for next year from this year's production.
On Tuesday, the government released the third estimate, that pegged wheat production at 76.78 million tons for 2007-08 crop year ending May this year. The agriculture minister noted that wheat price in the country is stable compared to other countries as there was ample availability backed by a bumper production.
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