No urgency to import wheat: Pawar
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 18
The government today said it had no immediate plans of importing more wheat as buffer stock was satisfactory and the season’s produce was expected to be near the targeted level.

Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said the Centre was satisfied with the buffer stock position compared to the norms. “So there is no urgency,” he added when asked about plans to import wheat.

At least “not immediately,” he said when asked whether the government was considering fresh imports.

Pawar also assured that the government was closely observing the international market closely, stressing that many countries affected the international markets, especially major producers of the grain.

He was confident that India would produce a record crop this year if weather remained favourable, pegging the output at over 75 million tons.

In 2006-07, the wheat production stood at 74.89 million tonnes and for the current season, the government had fixed a target of 75.5 million tonnes.

Whatever wheat was available in the world today is reddish in colour that faces consumers resistance in our country, he said on sidelines of a function organised by FICCI.

India, the second-largest producer of wheat, has been importing wheat for the past two years.

The Centre imported around 18 lakh tons in 2007 to augment its buffer stock for meeting the requirement of public distribution.

Meanwhile, India and Hungary today held discussions to further enhance of cooperation in the agriculture sector.

The Indian delegation led by Pawar met the Hungarian team led by minister of agriculture and rural development Jozsef Graf.

Highlighting the progress made by India in the fields of agricultural research, dairy equipment and packaging poultry and livestock, Pawar sought increased cooperation between India and Hungary in these areas.

India also proposed cooperation in agricultural infrastructure, post harvest management and horticulture.

It was also decided to further strengthen linkages between the G.B. Pant Agriculture University and universities and centres in Kaposvear, Godollo and Eger.

An agreement in the field of agriculture and allied sectors between the two countries provides for cooperation in agricultural research and technology, agricultural production, food processing and economic cooperation between the two countries through joint activities.

Joint activities will be carried out in the field of agricultural research, agricultural production including horticulture, post harvest management, agro processing, agricultural marketing, animal husbandry, dairying and aquaculture and phytosanitary issues relating to trade in plant and animal genetic resources.

The agreement will remain valid for a period of five years and will be automatically renewed for a subsequent period of five years.