Food Ministry for 10 per cent duty on import of cheap wheat

Meet with States on price rise next week, says Paswan

The Food Ministry has proposed a 10 per cent import duty on cheaper wheat shipments as the country has surplus stocks.

For now there is no import duty on wheat and wheat stocks are in surplus of requirement.

This and the issue of rising prices of pulses and onions will be discussed with State Food Ministers at a meeting being organised here next week, Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told journalists here.

He said there is a concern about the rising prices of tur, moong and masur lentils and onions.

“We propose to ask State governments to impose stock holding limits on there commodities to check prices,’’ he said.

The Ministry also proposes to discuss the implementation of the distribution of cheap food grains to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act. So far only 11 States have rolled out the Act.

Asked about the implication of the data under the socio-economic census released on Friday, Mr. Paswan said that it would have to be studied.

The meeting that is being convened is to ask States to take action against hoarders and implement the Food Security Act.