In a bid to curb local price surge, India has temporarily banned wheat exports with immediate effect. The country is the world’s second-biggest wheat producer. In April, India saw a decadal high in wheat prices in a worrying development.
The government statement comes as the Ukraine war – which began in February – enters the 12th week and the supply from the Black Sea has been restricted for the world amid the conflict. The United Nations has been repeatedly raising concerns over an imminent food shortage.
“The export policy of wheat … is prohibited with immediate effect…,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification on Friday night. “Export will be allowed in case of shipments where an irrevocable letter of credit is issued on or before the date of notification. Export will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government of India to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of the governments,” reads the statement.
“The export policy of onion seeds has been put under the restricted category, with immediate fact,” it said, PTI reported.
