Question : EXIM POLICY FOR AGRICULTURAL FOOD PRODUCTS

(a) the criteria followed/adopted by the Government for imposing/lifting of ban on Export and Import of various agricultural/food products from time to time;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any study to ascertain the adverse impact of such imposing/ lifting of ban on farmers/consumers during the last three years and the current year;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to formulate a long term consistent and predictable EXIM policy for agricultural/food products; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government to protect the interests of farmers/consumers from such adverse impact?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) The policy decisions on export and import of agricultural/food products, including decisions on imposing/ lifting of ban on export and import, are based on several factors such as availability/non-availability of surplus over and above the requirement of buffer stock including strategic reserve, concerns of food security, international and domestic demand and supply situation, quality concerns, sanitary & phytosanitary requirements, need to balance between remunerative prices to the growers and availability of agricultural products to common man at affordable prices etc.

(b) & (c) No specific study has been conducted to ascertain the adverse impact of such imposing/lifting of bans on farmers/consumers in the recent past.

(d) & (e) The Government is in favour of long-term, consistent and predictable trade policy for agricultural/ food products. Among the major agricultural/food products, restrictions have been imposed only on the export of edible oils and pulses and that too on account of severe demand-supply mismatch. There is no outright ban on import of any of the major agricultural/food products. All policy decisions on import and export of agricultural/ food products are taken after considering interests of all stakeholders including farmers and consumers.