India’s Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on food decided to continue the ban on non-basmati rice exports, while deferring a decision to impose import duties on edible oils, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) recently said.

 

"The ban on non-basmati rice exports will continue," said Kamal Nath, commerce minster, who also is a member of the EGoM. Asked about the imposition of import duties on edible oils, he said "no decision was taken." However, sources said the decision on edible oils was deferred because there was no unanimity among the ministers, the FAS noted.

 

The Indian government also decided to set aside around two million tons of wheat for export, to meet requests made by some countries through diplomatic channels. The country’s External Affairs Ministry will decide on quantities to be supplied to countries that have requested wheat from India. The FAS said such requests will be considered on humanitarian grounds. The government previously imposed a blanket ban on all wheat exports in 2007, following a drop in procurement by government agencies.