New Delhi: In a new effort to protect domestic markets from a worldwide wheat crisis, India will put curbs on flour exports.
Wheat grain export restrictions took place in May to shore up national food reserves following global shortages and rising food prices brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has said flour exporters will need to seek prior government approval to maintain quality and stabilise domestic prices.
“Global supply disruptions in wheat and wheat flour have created many new players and have led to price fluctuations and potential quality-related issues,” the regulator said in a notice issued Wednesday.
“Therefore, maintaining the quality of wheat flour exported from India is essential.”
India banned all exports of wheat grain without prior government approval in May, setting off a record rise in world prices and drawing criticism from other nations.
Russia and Ukraine together produce over a quarter of the world’s wheat, but their prolonged conflict has hampered the supply chain and resulted in a global shortage.
India is the world’s second-largest wheat producer after China. It is one of the most important cereal crops in India.
India produced 109 million tonnes of wheat last year but only exported around seven million tonnes.
A severe heatwave in March and April led to a drop in wheat production, prompting fears of shortages in the domestic market.
