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M.R. Subramani

Indore , Nov. 10

THE Madhya Pradesh Government plans to export at least one lakh tonnes of durum wheat during the current financial year, a State Agriculture Department official has said.

``We are in talks with MMTC to have the wheat exported to European Union and other Western nations through them,'' Dr G.S. Kaushal, Director, Agriculture, Madhya Pradesh, told Business Line. ``The talks are continuing with regard to prices and other things that go with international trade.'' Though durum wheat is being exported from Madhya Pradesh, it is for the first time that the State Government itself is making efforts to export this premium wheat variety. Private trade is estimated to have exported about one lakh tonnes of this variety.

Durum wheat is a superior variety that is used in preparation of fast food items such as pasta. Some of the branded wheat flour makers in the country use it for blending with ordinary wheat that sell at around Rs 18 a kg. Durum wheat also has a better yield, nutrition value and protein content. Its protein content is 12.5 per cent compared to 6-8 per cent in other wheat varieties.

Madhya Pradesh, the fourth largest wheat producer in the country, has also approached the Agriculture Ministry for announcing a separate minimum statutory price (MSP) for wheat produced in the State.

``Madhya Pradesh wheat is superior to the ones grown in Punjab and Haryana. No grower is coming forward to sell wheat at the MSP fixed by the Government,'' Dr Kaushal said.

The Government last year fixed Rs 630 per quintal as MSP for wheat. This year, too, it is expected to be at the same level.

``Wheat in our state is priced at nothing less than Rs 800-900 a quintal. Also, in the case of durum wheat, it sells at over Rs 20 kg in places such as Mumbai. In the global market, durum wheat enjoys a premium of over $30 a tonne over ordinary wheat, which is quoted at $140 a tonne now,'' he said.

Having a separate MSP for wheat grown in Madhya Pradesh would help farmers to take to better varieties of wheat, he said. According to the Agriculture Department sources, already there are reports of some farmers shifting to rapeseed from wheat to take advantage of the bullishness in oilseeds.

During the ongoing rabi season, wheat is expected to be sown in over 45 lakh hectares. With a favourable climate, wheat production could be around 90 lakh tonnes, according to Dr Kaushal. ``It could be even higher and that's why we expect our State to become the second-highest wheat growing State,'' he said. Last year, the central State produced 66 lakh tonnes.

During kharif season this year, crops were sown in a record 102 lakh hectares against a normal 89 lakh hectares and 66 lakh hectares last year. While the State is expecting a soyabean crop of 50-55 lakh tonnes, cotton production is seen at 12.14 lakh bales (of 170 kg) and 17 lakh tonnes of paddy. The State has also reported good production of jowar and maize.

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