Government may ban some agriculture futures

NEW DELHI: The government may ban futures trade in agriculture commodities that see high price volatility, Food Minister K V Thomas said on Wednesday.
At present, futures trade in urad, tur (arhar) and rice is banned, while it is permitted in wheat, sugar, soya oil, mustard seed, soyabean and some others. There are five national and 16 regional exchanges in the country.Forward Markets Commission (FMC) regulates these bourses.
"We have asked FMC to carefully watch the price movement of some agricultural commodities and see to it that there is no unnecessary price fluctuation. If need arises, on those items, where high fluctuation is seen, they will be out of the futures market," Thomas told reporters.
He added that price situation in the futures market will be reviewed with FMC this week. The commission is monitoring the price movement of five agricultural commodities - potato, chana, soyabean, soya oil and mustard seeds.
It has asked exchanges to charge higher deposit money to trade in commodities such as soyabean, mustard seed, soyameal and turmeric early this month. FMC Chairman Ramesh Abhishek had said recently that he is keeping a close watch on these essential items to curb any speculation and price increase. "New steps will be taken as and when required."
In the wake of poor monsoon, prices of essential commodities are on the rise in most parts of the country. Monsoon, crucial for Indian agriculture, is deficient by 22% in the country. Poor rains have affected sowing of major kharif crops like rice, pulses and oilseeds.
According to the FMC data, the turnover of commodity exchanges rose by 9% to Rs 41,71,803 crore till June this financial year against Rs 38,29,230 crore in the same period last year. agencies