Government is considering bringing back import duty on wheat to protect farmers' interest after a bumper harvest in the country.<br/><br/>Responding to concerns expressed by the opposition in the Rajya Sabha on farmers being forced to sell wheat below the minimum price, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said raising import duty is under consideration and government will take a decision soon. <br/><br/>He said the crop production this year has been at a record 96.64 million tonnes and 6.5 million tonne wheat is already in stock.<br/>The Minister said the import duty on wheat was zero between 2006 and 2015. In 2015, a customs duty of 25 per cent was levied on wheat which was subsequently cut to 10 per cent and it was totally removed in December last year.
News On AIR | March 23, 2017 8:03 PM
Govt considering bringing back import duty on wheat after bumper harvest