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The food ministry is against a blanket limit on stocking of all varieties of pulses and favours lifting them for chana and masur, but retaining it for moong, arhar and urad. It also has proposed a 10 per cent import duty on wheat to curb cheaper shipments as the country already has surplus stock.
"There are reports that private traders are importing wheat. We have proposed 10 per cent duty to check cheap imports and ensure that surplus wheat is consumed," Food Minister Ramvilas Paswan told reporters. He was briefing media on the issues that would be discussed at a day-long meeting with state food ministers next week, on price of essential commodities.
The minister also said that Centre was in favour of devising a long-term policy related to sugar sector based on boosting ethanol production as a piecemeal approach is neither in the interest of growers nor the sugar mills.
He also ruled out any quality issue on wheat procured this year by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains.
Wheat is being imported at Rs 17 per kg, while it is available in the domestic market at Rs 18.50 per kg, he added.
"There is sufficient supply in the country. The wheat being procured by FCI this year is of good quality and is fit for human consumption," he said.
