New Delhi, May 12: The ban on futures trading does not make any major impact on prices of commodities and the government is unlikely to add any other commodity to the list, Minister of Agriculture Sharad Pawar said today.

''The decision to ban futures trading on four commodities was taken by the Forward Markets Commission (FMC) but, I have seen earlier, the step does not make any major difference. I hope the ban is not extended beyond four months, and no other commodity is added to the list,'' the Minister said.

The central government is under pressure to contain prices ahead of state polls this year and national elections due by next year.

Last week, FMC banned futures trading in soybean oil, potatoes, rubber and chana for four months.

India, which bought wheat from markets abroad for two years to feed its public distribution system, on Monday ruled out any imports this year as food grain procurement neared 20 million tons against the targeted 15 MT.

"Though we have a target of 15 MT, we will reach 20 MT. If we reach 20 MT, import will not be required. There is no question (of import)," Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar told reporters on the sidelines of a function organised by Confederation of Indian Industries.

The minister said his assessment of the situation was based on feedback from all state governments and Food Corporation of India.

Wheat procurement reached 18.5 MT till Saturday last week, Pawar said at the conference.

When asked whether the government would stop procurement after it reaches 20 MT, the Minister said procurement would continue even after that, as per the schedule.

The wheat procurement would continue till May 15 in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, while the purchases will end by June 15 in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

India had to import 5.5 MT of wheat in 2006 to augment its buffer stock and manage PDS as procurement fell substantially to 9.2 MT. The government requires 12 MT wheat for supply under the PDS.

In 2007, the country had to import 1.8 MT at a very high price as the government could procure only 11 MT against the targeted 15 MT.