No food crunch, ban on wheat exports is to check unregulated trade: Govt

The government said it would still allow exports backed by already issued letters of credit and to countries that request supplies 'to meet their food security needs'

Indian government officials, speaking just hours after the country banned wheat exports, said there was no dramatic fall in wheat output this year but unregulated exports had led to a rise in local prices.

"We don't want wheat trade to happen in an unregulated manner or hoarding to happen," a senior government official told reporters in New Delhi on Saturday. The move to ban overseas shipments was not in perpetuity and could be revised, senior government officials said at a press conference.

The government said it would still allow exports backed by already issued letters of credit and to countries that request