New Delhi, May 12
India may import up to 5 million tonnes of foodgrain this year to create buffer stock for meeting the requirements of the commodity during national calamities, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said.
“We have last year’s stock of 4.5 million tonnes. We have procured so far 92 lakh tonnes and our annual requirement is 120 lakh tonnes. So, we have some excess stock of wheat. But to face drought and other natural calamities there is a need to build up stocks,” he told reporters on the sidelines of ICAR’s 78th AGM.
Pawar said the government would build up stock by buying wheat from whichever countries the foodgrain was available.
“We may float tender to purchase 4-5 million tonnes of wheat when harvest in other countries come to market,” Pawar said. India is the second largest wheat producer in the world.
— PTI
