Govt denies report on wheat purchase restriction

New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) Denying media reports, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said the government had not restricted any company, including MNC, from purchasing wheat in the current season.

''But, any company that buys more than 50 tonnes of wheat has to declare the stock. This condition has been imposed to prevent hoarding,'' Mr Pawar said at a hurriedly-called press conference at his residence here.

Media reports that the government will curb private players from procurement had set the mandis in turmoil, and even prompted Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to declare in the state Assembly yesterday that the Centre had no business to do so.

Mr Pawar said 72.6 million tonnes of wheat was expected in the current harvest against 68.5 million tonnes last year.

''This year, the increase in procurement price of wheat is the highest at Rs 150 per quintal with the farmers getting Rs 850 per quintal,'' he added.

He, however, clarified that there was no increase in issue price of wheat for public distribution system fixed in 2002-03.

''The FCI will purchase the last grain from the market,'' he said.

In the case of sugar, he said the government had also adopted a pro-farmer policy by creating a buffer stock and allowing export but only after clearance of farmers' arrears.

UNI