India to export 2 million tonnes of wheat in next few months

India plans to export 2 million tonnes of wheat over the next several months in inter-government deals following a bumper harvest last year, as it has sufficient stocks to meet domestic needs.

India's food ministry cleared a proposal for exporting 600,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan, as India permitted shipments after two years during which it was a net wheat importer.

The country's confidence about its food security in 2009 has been further bolstered by smooth ongoing sowing operations for the current wheat crop, which will be harvested in April 2009.