The government has allowed additional wheat exports of 2 million tonnes from its godowns. It will be done through public sector trading firms. This to to clear surplus stock and ease storage crunch. The proposal of food ministry was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs- CCEA today.The additional exports is allowed as the Government is sitting on a huge stock of 40 million tonnes of wheat. What is required is only 14 million tonnes at the end of September 2013. The overflowing stocks in FCI godowns have also put pressure on storage availability.

The government had allowed 4.5 million tonnes of wheat exports from FCI godowns during last fiscal through PSUs. Of this, about 4.2 million tonnes have already been exported for over 7,000 crore rupees.