India extends ban on wheat exports

India on Monday re-imposed a ban on export of wheat in less than two weeks after relaxing the curb.
The government had clamped the ban on wheat export and wheat products in 2007 to increase the item's supply to domestic market and contain rising prices but had eased it 11 days ago when it allowed exports of up to nine lakh tonnes of the food grain through three government-owned firms.
The directorate general of Foreign Trade on Monday issued a notification, cancelling the previous export order.
Meanwhile, All India Rice Exporters Association has urged the government to withdraw the ban on exports of non-basmati rice to enable them to ship 20 lakh tonnes it has decided to sell to friendly countries.
“We urge the government to allow us to export non-basmati from the quantity earmarked for overseas shipment. This is something which the government has already committed to and would in no way harm any body's interests”, said Non-basmati Promotion and Market Access Committee Chairman Prem Garg.
The ban on rice export was made effective in April last year to contain soaring prices in domestic market.