Govt raises wheat import duty to 40% in order to support local farmers

Customs duty raised to 40% from 30% earlier, also relaxes quality norms for wheat procurement

The Centre on Friday raised wheat import duty by a third to 40 per cent to support local farmers from further price fall and prevent its possible import on the back of a growing demand for animal feed in drought hit states including Maharashta, Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

A notification issued by the Ministry of Finance on Friday evening said that wheat import will attract 40 per cent duty from existing 30 per cent effective immediately.

The government in its latest estimates has forecast India’s wheat output at 100 million tonnes, the highest ever, as against 99.12 million