New Delhi: India, which feeds the world in summer, may have to import wheat to feed its people in winter. Due to this concern of experts, the government imposed a ban on the export of wheat in May to ensure the domestic availability of food grains and to check food inflation.
After this, the export of flour was also banned in July and now in August, maida, semolina, and whole meat flour (including bran) have also been banned. This decision of the Center will be effective from August 14.
Consignment of maida and semolina will be allowed to be sent between August 8 and 14, subject to the condition that the goods have been loaded on the ship before the notification of the government, or the consignment has been handed over to the customs department.
Under the current policy, flour can be exported only after the recommendation of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the export of wheat. Under the new law, these can be exported only after the recommendation of the committee.
People are suffering due to inflation in the country. Even though the government has been claiming to have lower prices in India by presenting the figures of other countries, the high price of flour-wheat-milk to edible oil has spoiled the budget of the people.
Retail prices of flour are at a record 12-year high and prices have increased by 21% in one year. At the same time, the prices of Basmati rice have increased by more than 15% and that of non-Basmati rice by more than 5%.
Product Aug 2021 Aug 2022 Hike
Flour 24 29 20.8%
Rice 37 39 5.4%
Wheat 21 27 28%
Sugar 39 40 2.5%
Mustard oil 57 173 10.2%
soybean oil 138 157 13.7%
Palm oil 115 137 19%
Potato 20 28 40%
The price of edible oil has also increased strongly in the last year. However, the government took several steps to curb this and issued instructions to the companies. After this, there was some softening, but still, the price of palm oil is 19% higher than last year and mustard oil prices are 10% higher.
