| "Fortunately, our position is good and whatever the country's requirement is, that stock plus a little more is available with government today,'' Pawar said in an interview in Bangalore on Friday. ''We are watching the overall season and then will decide when to float a tender'' for buying wheat. |
| India had 13.3 million tonnes of wheat in state warehouses as of May 31, less than the 17.1 million tonnes the government needed to store by July 1. |
| On July 10, India purchased 511,000 metric tonnes from Cargill Inc, Toepfer International and Riaz Trading for a record $317 a tonne to $330 a tonne to ensure sufficient supplies of the grain and curb inflationary pressures. |
| India may reduce the tax on import of wheat flour to boost supplies, Pawar said. The government is also yet to decide on selling wheat from its reserves to bread and biscuit makers to prevent a rise in prices ahead of the peak festival season beginning next month. |
| Increased imports by India may support prices that are trading near a record on the Chicago Board of Trade, the world's biggest grains market. |
| India's wheat output, forecast at 74.89 million tonnes this year, may fall short of demand as rising incomes stoke demand for breads, biscuits and noodles in the world's fastest growing major economy after China. |
| India likely harvested 1.6 per cent more wheat than forecast by the government in the year ended June 30 as good weather and higher prices encouraged farmers to boost planting, Agriculture Secretary PK Mishra said in New Delhi on July 19. |
| "Whatever reports we are getting about rains is quite good,'' Pawar said. |
| Production probably reached 74.89 million tonnes, exceeding the 73.7 million tonnes forecast in April, Mishra said. India produced 69.35 million tonnes last year. The government will announce final crop estimates by the end of January. |
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