The Indian government is exploring the possibility of bartering sugar for pulses with countries like Canada and others, said union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here on Sunday.

She said sugar is getting accumulated in large quantities for the past couple of years and unless these stocks are exhausted, sugarcane farmers will not be able to get their price.

Speaking to reporters on the margins of ‘International Conference on Science, Technology and Public Policy to achieve Zero Hunger Challenge’ organised here by the M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Sitharaman said that the barter proposal is in very nascent stage.

India imports pulses from Canada, Africa, Myanmar and other countries.

Speaking at the conference, the minister said the central government is working with Kerala government to solve the issues faced by the rubber industry.

The government is also encouraging rubber production in states like Tripura, she added.