SOUTH-Twists in Tamil Nadu

November 2, 1974 NORTH Opportunistic Swings in Food Policy ON October 22, the Punjab government at last announced its decision, after 'clearance' from the Centre, to resume the wholesale trade in wheat. The resumption has come after a six-month interval, however, during which the private traders fully exploited the relaxation of curbs on their activity. The drastic reduction in permissible stocks of non-levy wheat with traders from 2,500 quintals to a 100 quintals, the ban on the trader-to-trader transactions, the dehoarding drive and raids on businessmen's godowns, have resulted in substantial market arrivals and a general easing of the situation. If the state's proposal to prescribe the same 100- quintal limit for fanners too is actually implemented, the wheat arrivals in the market would increase further.