THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
( SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN )
(a) & (b) : Yes, Sir. The stock of rice and wheat in the central pool as on 1-7-2000 as
compared with buffer stock norms is as under :-
(Figs. in lakh tonnes)
Commodity Stocks Buffer Excess: norms Stock
Rice 144.90 100.00 44.90
Wheat 277.57 143.00 134.57
Total 422.47 243.00 179.47
The above wheat stock includes 0.71 lakh tonnes of imported wheat. The stock of rice is
all indigenous.
(c) Monthly allocation of about 21 lakh tonnes food grains is made to States/Uts under
Targetted Public Distribution System with effect from April, 2000.
(d) & (e) : There is an ongoing Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) under which any buyer
can purchase wheat from FCI at the rate of Rs. 900/- per quintal, subject to the condition that
the indented quantity is not less than 10 tonnes. Government have decided to dispose of wheat
under Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) from Punjab only at the following rates :-
Month Rate per qtl.
July, 2000 Rs.700/-per qtl Aug.,2000 Rs.750/-per qtl Sept., 2000 Rs.800/-per qtl
However no wheat has been sold in Punjab under this scheme so far.
(f) & (g) : Yes, Sir. To liquidate surplus wheat stocks, Government is inter-alia
exploring the possibilities of commodity loan of wheat to South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation countries or other countries as also barter trade of wheat with those
countries which could supply us other commodities in exchange of wheat at prices at which
they are importing wheat from other countries. It has also been decided to allow export of
wheat on Government to Government account subject to suitable floor price. The possibilities
of export of wheat have also been explored through Ministry of External Affairs. Ruling prices
of wheat in Central Pool as compared to the international prices being high, export of Indian
wheat has not been commercially viable. There is no decision to export rice from Central Pool.
