The Hindu Business Line : India may become wheat deficit, says Cargill CMD

TERMING India as a food-deficit country along with China, Cargill India's Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Hardeep Singh, said on Tuesday that the country may have to begin importing wheat.

"There is no doubt about it, we are short on wheat this year. Come December, and India may turn into a wheat importer," he said, while addressing the Confederation of Indian Industries' annual session here.

Mr Hardeep Singh said that wheat output has declined substantially this year from 72 million tonnes last year, thus contradicting output projections by various agencies, which have pegged wheat production to be 73-74 million tonnes for 2004-05. The current high wheat prices along with low procurement by State-owned agencies, including the FCI, point to lower production during this year compared to last year.

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