India to export 90,000 tonnes of surplus wheat to Afghanistan, Lebanon

Business Standard Wheat production has been rising year-on-year and the previous record of 103.60 million tonne was achieved during the 2018-19 crop year (July-June) ALSO READ: Agriculture ministry raises daily purchase limit of oilseeds, pulses Since India has produced more wheat than it consumes, New Delhi has decided to export the grain to Afghanistan and Lebanon after receiving requests from the two countries, Narendra Singh Tomar said in a Tweet. Farmers have harvested wheat crop in about 33 per cent of the total sown area so far and it will pick up in the coming weeks. According to the second government estimate, the country is set to harvest a record wheat production of 106.21 million tonne in the 2019-20 crop year on the back of good rains. Wheat production has been rising year-on-year and the previous record of 103.60 million tonne was achieved during the 2018-19 crop year (July-June). The Uttar Pradesh government has set an ambitious wheat procurement target of 5.5 million tonnes (MT) for the coming 2020-21 rabi marketing season. Earlier this week, the government had eased jute packaging norms to allow alternative packing arrangements for foodgrain in a move to protect the interest of wheat farmers amid the closure of jute mills due to coronavirus -related lockdown. ALSO READ: Ball in Centre's court: States for lockdown extension as India sits tight The Union Textiles Ministry on Tuesday said that the limit for high-density polyethylene or polypropylene (HDPP/PP) has been increased to 2.62 lakh bales from the earlier 1.80 lakh bales with a view to protecting the produce of wheat farmers by providing them alternate packaging bags. Food grains are primarily packed in jute sacking bags under JPM Act. The move has been taken mainly to protect the interest of the wheat farmers as the grains are likely to ready for packing mid-April onwards.