August 24: India has excluded Nepal from the list of wheat exporting countries. Nepal was left out of the wheat export quota by the Government of India due to the delay in part of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. This has cast doubt regarding the import of 600,000 metric tons of wheat required by the domestic flour industry.

India has decided export wheat to Bangladesh, Indonesia, Yemen, the UAE and Oman under quota system. Since those countries took the initiative in time, New Delhi has given permission to export wheat to those countries by setting quota. On Monday, the Indian government announced the details of the wheat exporting countries and the quota allocated for them.

It may be noted that India imposed a ban on wheat export on April 14 due to the decline in domestic production. Despite the ban, New Delhi has said that wheat will be exported to the countries that are in need of food security by setting quotas.

Although the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has repeatedly promised to take initiative for the import of wheat, 32 flour industries operating in the country have been closed due to the failure to do so on time. Concerned industrialists have said that they are running out of stock of wheat. Keeping in mind the approaching festivals, the ministry has shown readiness to bring sugar from India but has neglected wheat.

Although the ministry had asked the industrialists one month ago to determine the quantity of wheat required for them, it has not yet taken any initiative with the Government of India to import wheat.

Dr Narayan Prasad Regmi, under secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, said that it will take some time to decide on importing wheat needed by Nepal's industry. He said that since the ministry is currently studying the requirement, he could not say exactly when wheat will be imported. 

Avinash Bohora, central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the President of Province 1 chapter of Nepal India Industry and Commerce Association, said that if the government does not bring wheat immediately, there will be a shortage of flour during the upcoming festivals. He said that not only the flour industry but more than 250 other related industries will be affected. Wheat is the raw material for industries that produce biscuits and noodles.

Bikas Begwani, secretary of Nepal Flour Mill Association and vice president of Morang Trade Association, said that Nepal was not included in the list of countries that India exports wheat to because the ministry staff did not work quickly. He said that the government should have sent a letter to the Government of India immediately after the industrialist informed the ministry about the required amount of wheat, but the ministry did not do so.