The Government today said that it has invited financial bids from private traders for export of nearly one million tonnes of wheat stored in the FCI godowns in Punjab and Haryana.
Last month, the Centre had allowed export of an extra 5 million tonnes (MT) wheat of 2011-12 crop from its godowns via private trade to ease the storage burden.
“Food Corporation of India (FCI) has invited the financial bids for sale of wheat of crop year 2011-12,” an official release said.
The base price of wheat to be exported under Open General Licence (OGL) from Punjab and Haryana will be Rs 1,484 per quintal.
The financial bids have been invited for 5,40,000 tonnes of wheat in Punjab and 4,09,826 tonnes in Haryana.
Technical bids
Meanwhile in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Food Minister K.V. Thomas today said that the FCI has invited technical bids for empanelment of private exporters.
It has received four technical bids for Punjab and 10 technical bids for Haryana, he said.
“The Government has recently allowed the sale of up to five million tonnes of wheat till June 30, 2013 from the central pool stock in Punjab and Haryana pertaining to the stock of 2011-12 through private traders for export purposes,” he said.
This channel has been opened to speed up the evacuation of surplus old stock of wheat in central pool.
Thomas also said that there is no proposal to export rice from the central pool.