well above the target for this year. Talking to media here Food Minister K V Thomas said the food security bill has to be kept in mind before deciding on the export.
He said the Empowered Group of Minister will soon take a decision on this matter. Our Correspondent reports, India, one of the world’s biggest producers and consumers of wheat and rice, has kept a tight control over grain exports since 2007. The government has however allowed overseas sales of basmati rice.
On rising prices of sugar in domestic markets, Mr. Thomas said the government will review the situation. The Empowered Group of Ministers had last week allowed export of 5 lakh tonnes of sugar under open general licence. He informed the EGoM also decided to
release 50 lakh tonnes of food grain for distribution to above poverty line families under the public distribution system before March 2012.