Gujarat Govt plans import of maize oil

GANDHINAGAR, Sept 29: Food and Civil Supplies Minister Jaspal Singh on Monday conceded that the prices of groundnut oil in the State had ...

GANDHINAGAR, Sept 29: Food and Civil Supplies Minister Jaspal Singh on Monday conceded that the prices of groundnut oil in the State had not yet come down despite a better yield of groundnut crop being expected not only in Gujarat but also in other groundnut-growing States like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu this year.

In an informal chat with newspersons here, the Minister said the groundnut oil was still selling at Rs 900 per 15-kg tin in the State, and its prices were likely to come down, though marginally, around Diwali only after the new crop started arriving at markets all over the State.

To tide over the situation, the State Government would create a buffer stock of the edible oil, he said. Besides, he said the government proposed to import maize (corn) oil for which it would soon hold negotiations with suppliers. “In fact, I have written to the Chief Minister to find out the Central Government’s stand on its import policy so that Gujarat can decide on its actual demand for theimported edible oil”, the Minister said, adding that there was tremendous pressure from the farmers’ lobby on the government against the import so that they could get remmunerative prices of their produce.

To a query, Singh pointed out that a good groundnut harvest expected in other states this season would also help ease the situation on the price front in Gujarat, for export of groundnut seeds from the State would be restricted considerably.

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