The Hindu Business Line : Wheat imbroglio

The wheat situation is getting not only curiouser, but also murkier. What does intense political pressure brought on by food shortage and consequent price rise do to a government? Without unduly bothering about long-term consequences of the action, and in disregard of scientists' advice, compromise quality considerations to augment supplies from abroad. This is what seems to have happened to New Delhi's wheat import policy. In its desperation to accelerate arrivals on a large-scale, and possibly succumbing to pressure from `influential' overseas suppliers, the government has progressively diluted the quarantine norms for import of wheat in recent months.

The latest move to allow the presence of two fungal pathogens not found in India is evidence that policymakers are ready to sacrifice food safety and plant protection policies at the altar of political expediency. The idea seems to be to augment `somehow' the physical supplies soonest — regardless of the country's long-term agricultural interests. It is both weak argument and poor consolation that the intended imports that may contain a certain level of ergot and dwarf bunt are for consumption and not planting. Two issues arise. First, does the decision to dilute quality advance consumer interest? If imports are in interest of consumers, as is sought to be made out, then they should have been taken into confidence; unless of course, the government thinks consumers must eat, without questioning , what is supplied to them. Second, even if the imports are strictly for human consumption, there could yet be risks associated with our breeding programme. Adventitious contamination with indigenous produce cannot be ruled out. In such matters, the `precautionary principle' must be followed. There is nothing to suggest that clear regulatory steps have been put in place to prevent contamination — accidental or otherwise — of local crop.

The entire process has been opaque; a knee-jerk response that advances interests of neither the consumer nor the farmer. A major reason why India must generally disfavour unrestrained import of primary agricultural produce is that this can lead to entry of exotic pests and diseases and affect local crops. There is merit in the concern. We cannot afford to lose sight of the fact that this essentially agrarian economy is not adequately equipped to contain outbreak of plant diseases. For instance, all these years, government's reluctance fully to open up oilseeds import, despite the mounting pressure from within the country and outside, was on the concern that foreign pests and diseases could potentially destroy our crops. Pulses imports, of course, are an exception because there is no alternative to meeting the chronic shortage. On the issue of Customs duty on wheat, the lack of coordination between the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture once again shows the government in poor light. When will the policymakers learn that it is best to avoid speaking out of turn, especially on matters that have implications for the market?