India to import 30,000 tonnes of rice
Sunday, 1 November 2009
NEW DELHI, Oct 31 (PTI): The government is believed to have decided to import 30,000 tonnes of rice as public sector trading companies MMTC, PEC and STC Friday floated tenders to buy 10,000 tonnes of rice each from overseas markets.
Bids have been invited to buy rice amid apprehensions by the government that the domestic output may decline due to drought and later drought in different producing states.
Though the tender notices do not specify whether the rice would be imported on behalf of the government, Public Sector Unit (PSU) sources said they have been asked to float the tender by the Centre.
When contacted food ministry officials did not confirm or deny the decision to import rice. However, sources in the ministry said the decision to import the commodity has been taken after assessing a possible a drop in production and procurement.
But the government has not yet decided on the total quantity of rice to be imported in 2009-10 fiscal, they added. The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM), headed by Finance Minister of India Pranab Mukherjee, is likely to take a decision next month on the total quantity of rice to be imported by the government.
The Finance Minister had recently said that India is likely to see a drop of 16 million tonnes in rice production due to drought and flood. Last year, the country had produced 84.58 million tonnes in Kharif season.
According to the tender notice, traders should submit their bids for all the three different tenders by November 9. The decision on these will be taken by November 12.
MMTC wants delivery at Haldia, West Bengal, by December 15. PEC on other hand wants to take delivery at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, while STC has left the option to bidders.
Bids have been invited to buy rice amid apprehensions by the government that the domestic output may decline due to drought and later drought in different producing states.
Though the tender notices do not specify whether the rice would be imported on behalf of the government, Public Sector Unit (PSU) sources said they have been asked to float the tender by the Centre.
When contacted food ministry officials did not confirm or deny the decision to import rice. However, sources in the ministry said the decision to import the commodity has been taken after assessing a possible a drop in production and procurement.
But the government has not yet decided on the total quantity of rice to be imported in 2009-10 fiscal, they added. The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM), headed by Finance Minister of India Pranab Mukherjee, is likely to take a decision next month on the total quantity of rice to be imported by the government.
The Finance Minister had recently said that India is likely to see a drop of 16 million tonnes in rice production due to drought and flood. Last year, the country had produced 84.58 million tonnes in Kharif season.
According to the tender notice, traders should submit their bids for all the three different tenders by November 9. The decision on these will be taken by November 12.
MMTC wants delivery at Haldia, West Bengal, by December 15. PEC on other hand wants to take delivery at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, while STC has left the option to bidders.