Guwahati: The Central Government has classified wheat export as "prohibited" in an effort to control the country's overall food security and to solicit assistance from neighbouring and vulnerable countries.

In an official announcement released Friday evening, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) noted that as a transitional solution, wheat export will be permitted for shipments where the irrevocable letter of credit (ILOC) was granted on or before May 13.

It further stated that exports will be authorized if the Central Government grants authorization to other nations to satisfy their food security needs and their governments request it. "The Government of India is dedicated to meeting the food security needs of India, neighboring and other vulnerable developing nations that have been negatively affected by abrupt shifts in the global wheat market and are unable to obtain appropriate wheat supply," according to the announcement.

Meanwhile, India will send trade teams to nine countries, including Morocco, Tunisia, and Indonesia, to investigate ways to increase wheat shipments as it aims to export 10 million tonnes of the crop in 2022-23.

According to the commerce ministry, a task group on wheat exports has been formed with officials from several ministries, including commerce, shipping, and railroads, as well as exporters, under the auspices of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The worldwide demand for Indian wheat is increasing, and farmers, merchants, and exporters have been instructed to adhere to the quality standards of the importing nations in order for India to emerge as a reputable provider of the crop.

According to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade's estimations, India exported 7 million tonnes (MT) of wheat in 2021-22, valued at USD 2.05 billion.

In the previous fiscal year, almost 50% of the total shipment was sent to Bangladesh.