Explained | Why did the government impose a ceiling on wheat stocks?
1 year, 9 months ago

Explained | Why did the government impose a ceiling on wheat stocks?

The Hindu  

The story so far: On June 12, in a move endeavouring to manage the “overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation”, the Union Government imposed limits on stock of wheat that can be held by traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers and processors. The government has also decided to offload 15 lakh tonnes of wheat from the central pool via the Open Market Sale Scheme to flour mills, private traders, bulk buyers, manufacturers of wheat products through e-auction. The government had set a target of procuring 341.5 lakh metric tonnes of wheat for the Central Pool in the ongoing Rabi Marketing Season 2023-24. As of June, the government had 313.9 lakh metric tonnes of wheat in the central stock compared to 311.42 lakh metric tonnes in the year-ago period. Notwithstanding the warnings from experts about the potential effects of El Nino, the Agricultural Ministry estimates the production of wheat at a record 1,127.43 lakh metric tonnes for the agriculture year 2022-23, higher by 50.01 lakh metric tonnes from previous year’s production.

Food India Prices Wheat Stock Crop Tonnes Lakh Metric  impose  wheat  tonnes  prices  explained  stocks  retailers  stock  lakh  crop  ceiling  production  metric  food

History of this topic

Centre asks traders, wholesales, retailers to declare wheat stock every Friday from 1 April
4 days, 12 hours ago

Centre asks traders, wholesales, retailers to declare wheat stock every Friday from 1 April

Live Mint  

The central government asked traders, wholesalers, retailers, chain retailers and processors in all states and union territories to declare their stock position of wheat starting 1 April 2025 as part of its effort to manage food security and prevent unscrupulous speculation. The government has mandated that all wheat stocking entities register on the designated portal and update their stock positions …

Haryana to procure 75 lakh MT wheat
5 days, 5 hours ago

Haryana to procure 75 lakh MT wheat

Hindustan Times  

Complete all arrangements in time for purchase of Rabi crops, CM tells officials Haryana chief minister nayab Singh Saini chairing a review meeting in Chandigarh regarding the preparations for the Rabi procurement marketing season 2025-26 on Monday. With Haryana setting the target to procure 75 lakh metric tonne wheat, chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday directed officials of four …

Centre cuts wheat stock limits until March to curb hoarding, stabilize prices
1 month, 1 week ago

Centre cuts wheat stock limits until March to curb hoarding, stabilize prices

Live Mint  

New Delhi: As part of its ongoing efforts to regulate supply and curb price volatility, the government on Thursday revised wheat stock limits for traders, retailers, and chain store retailers, tightening the cap until 31 March. Similarly, big chain retailers, previously allowed to stock 5 tonnes per outlet, can now stock only 4 tonnes of wheat, with an overall cap …

Government sets wheat procurement target at 30 million tonnes for 2025-26 season
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Government sets wheat procurement target at 30 million tonnes for 2025-26 season

The Hindu  

The government has set a conservative wheat procurement target of 30 million tonnes for the 2025-26 rabi marketing season, sources said. The lower procurement target comes despite the Agriculture Ministry aiming for a record wheat production of 115 million tonnes in the 2024-25 crop year. In 2024-25, government wheat procurement reached 26.6 million tonnes against a target of 30-32 million …

Govt reduces wheat stock limits for traders and retailers, says ample grain available
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Govt reduces wheat stock limits for traders and retailers, says ample grain available

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday reduced the wheat stock limit for traders and wholesalers from 2,000 metric tonnes to 1,000 MT, with comfortable availability of the staple food item in Rabi 2024. The stock limit for retailers has been brought down to 5 MT per outlet, down from 10 MT, the ministry of consumer affairs, food, and public distribution …

Anticipating price rise, Centre imposes fresh caps on wheat inventories
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Anticipating price rise, Centre imposes fresh caps on wheat inventories

Hindustan Times  

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday further reduced the limit of wheat stocks that traders and millers can store at any given point, a step authorities said was necessary to tamp down prices. A worker sifts wheat before filling in sacks at the market yard of the Agriculture Product Marketing Committee on the outskirts of Ahmedabad Restricting the amount of …

Govt to e-auction 25 LMT wheat to stabilise open market prices
4 months ago

Govt to e-auction 25 LMT wheat to stabilise open market prices

Live Mint  

The government has decided to offload 25 lakh metric tonnes of wheat under the Open Market Sales Scheme 2024, a move that is aimed at moderating wheat prices in the open market. The ministry of consumer affairs, food & public distribution has directed the Food Corporation of India to offload 25 LMT of wheat and conduct the sale via e-auctions, …

Govt restores wheat allocations for PMGKAY beneficiaries, allocates 3.5 mn tonnes for October-March period
6 months, 1 week ago

Govt restores wheat allocations for PMGKAY beneficiaries, allocates 3.5 mn tonnes for October-March period

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The government has restored wheat allocations under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana —the free food scheme for the poorest—starting from October until March after a gap of more than two years. “Roughly, 10 million tonnes of wheat are available with traders in the country, which is higher compared to the same time last year," he said. …

Centre imposes stockholding limits on wheat
9 months ago

Centre imposes stockholding limits on wheat

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday imposed a stock limit on wheat to reduce hoarding of the grain and stablise its prices. “The government is open to all options if the stock limit would not cool down the price such as by reducing import duty and would soon think to dump wheat in the open market through open market sales …

India plans to reduce wheat import duty from July in a bid to cool prices
9 months ago

India plans to reduce wheat import duty from July in a bid to cool prices

Live Mint  

India is set to resume wheat imports by lowering the duty on inbound shipments while also imposing stock limits on the grain, three officials said, in a new attempt to tame prices and boost supplies. Also this | Govt misses wheat procurement target for second consecutive year, procures 26.6 mt—28.7% lower than target “As per my understanding and discussions at …

Wheat procurement sufficient for food-security schemes: Govt
10 months, 4 weeks ago

Wheat procurement sufficient for food-security schemes: Govt

Hindustan Times  

The government’s procurement of wheat has crossed the minimum threshold quantity required to cater to all welfare schemes despite a delayed start, including distribution of free grains to nearly 800 million beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, and authorities said they were on course to achieve grain-stocking targets for 2024. Procurement refers to purchases of grains by the Food …

In Prayagraj,60% wheat purchased through doorstep collection: Official
11 months, 1 week ago

In Prayagraj,60% wheat purchased through doorstep collection: Official

Hindustan Times  

As part of efforts to ensure smooth procurement of wheat from farmers across the state this season, the state government has set up 293 wheat purchasing centres in Prayagraj district alone and deputed nine agencies for the task. Since the minimum support price of wheat is ₹2,275 per quintal, the payout to the state’s farmers against the targeted purchase would …

Centre mandates weekly reporting on wheat stocks to prevent hoarding
1 year ago

Centre mandates weekly reporting on wheat stocks to prevent hoarding

The Hindu  

Traders, retailers and food processors must declare wheat stocks every Friday from April to prevent hoarding and price spikes, the government said on Friday. The second biggest global wheat consumer after China has been trying to contain wheat prices after heat waves hit production for two straight years, forcing the government to sell record volumes to boost domestic supplies. The …

Wheat output to reach 112 mn tonne during 2023-24: Centre
1 year, 1 month ago

Wheat output to reach 112 mn tonne during 2023-24: Centre

Hindustan Times  

Output of winter-sown wheat is set to be a record 112 million tonne during 2023-24, compared to last year’s 110 million tonne, while summer-sown rice is estimated at 111 million tonne, 0.9% higher than the previous year, the Union government’s second advance estimates of foodgrains production released on Thursday showed. Spread over kharif and rabi seasons of 2023-24, total cereal …

Govt targets wheat hoarders, halves stock limits again
1 year, 1 month ago

Govt targets wheat hoarders, halves stock limits again

Live Mint  

The Union government has imposed another round of curbs on stocking of wheat, drastically lowering the limit for the second time since December as it seeks to prevent hoarding and speculation that could spike prices. “Officials of Central and state governments will be closely monitoring enforcement of these stock limits to ensure that no artificial scarcity of wheat is created …

India's wheat production likely to touch all-time high of 114 million tonnes in 2023-24 crop year
1 year, 2 months ago

India's wheat production likely to touch all-time high of 114 million tonnes in 2023-24 crop year

India TV News  

Anticipating favourable conditions and increased coverage, a senior official from the food ministry said that wheat production is projected to reach a new milestone of 114 million tonnes in the current 2023-24 crop year. In the preceding 2022-23 crop year, wheat production achieved a record 110.55 million tonnes, surpassing 107.7 million tonnes from the previous year. Last year, the FCI's …

Govt. limits wheat stocks to control price rise, hoarding
1 year, 6 months ago

Govt. limits wheat stocks to control price rise, hoarding

The Hindu  

Sensing an upward movement in wheat prices and fearing hoarding ahead of the festive season, the Centre has decided to reduce the stock limits of wheat for traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers and processors in all States and Union Territories. “Officials of Central and State Governments will be closely monitoring enforcement of these stock limits to ensure that no …

India considering to import 8-9 million tonnes of wheat from Russia amid inflation: Report
1 year, 7 months ago

India considering to import 8-9 million tonnes of wheat from Russia amid inflation: Report

India TV News  

India is reportedly in talks with Russia to import 8 to 9 million tonnes of wheat to help reduce the prices of the commodity in the domestic market, reported TASS news agency citing The Economic Times. Despite India needing only 3 to 4 million metric tonnes of wheat to plug a shortfall, it is considering a bigger import to have …

To curb price rise, Centre releases more grain stock under open market sale
1 year, 7 months ago

To curb price rise, Centre releases more grain stock under open market sale

The Hindu  

Concerned over the increase in foodgrains prices, the Centre on Wednesday decided to additionally sell 50 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and 25 LMT of rice through the Open Market Sales Scheme from the Food Corporation of India stocks. Talking to reporters, Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said the Centre had also decided to bring down the reserve price of …

India to offer 5 million tonne wheat to bulk consumers to cool prices
1 year, 7 months ago

India to offer 5 million tonne wheat to bulk consumers to cool prices

The Hindu  

India will provide 5 million metric tonne of wheat and 2.5 million tonne of rice to bulk consumers such as flour millers, as part of efforts to augment supplies and stabilise prices, a senior government official told reporters on Wednesday. The country has adequate stocks of wheat and rice which the government can release on the open market to stabilise …

Govt to sell additional 50 lakh tons wheat, 25 lakh tons rice in open market to contain price rise
1 year, 7 months ago

Govt to sell additional 50 lakh tons wheat, 25 lakh tons rice in open market to contain price rise

India TV News  

As inflation is soaring high in the country, the Union Government on Wednesday declared that it has decided to sell additional 50 lakh tonnes of wheat and 25 lakh tonnes of rice from the central pool in the open market in order to check the price rise. "The government has decided to offload 50 lakh tonnes of wheat and 25 …

Govt's rice procurement reaches 55.8 million tonnes and wheat 26.2 million tonnes so far
1 year, 9 months ago

Govt's rice procurement reaches 55.8 million tonnes and wheat 26.2 million tonnes so far

The Hindu  

The government's rice procurement has reached 55.8 million tonnes so far in the ongoing 2022-23 marketing season, benefitting 1.22 crore farmers with MSP of ₹1.7 lakh crore, the Food Ministry said on June 20. Wheat procurement has reached 26.2 million tonnes so far in the 2023-24 rabi marketing year, more than the last year's total procurement of 18.8 million tonnes. …

Government imposes stock limits on wheat to prevent hoarding
1 year, 9 months ago

Government imposes stock limits on wheat to prevent hoarding

The Hindu  

In order to manage overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation, the government has decided to impose stock limits on wheat for traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers and processors. "Respective legal entities, as above, have to declare the stocks position and update them regularly on the portal of the Department of Food and Public Distribution and …

Multi-agency approach to help govt get 34 mt wheat
1 year, 10 months ago

Multi-agency approach to help govt get 34 mt wheat

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The department of food and public distribution will ensure procurement of 34 million tonnes of wheat in the ongoing 2023-24 rabi marketing season by taking a multi-agency procurement approach. Currently, the department of food and public distribution procures wheat only through Food Corp of India, which so far in the current rabi marketing season has purchased 26.1 mt …

10,727 tonnes of wheat procured; ban on exports continues
2 years ago

10,727 tonnes of wheat procured; ban on exports continues

The Hindu  

The Food Corporation of India’s Chairman and Managing Director Ashok K. Meena said the Centre would continue the ban on wheat export till it was confident about domestic supplies meeting the country’s food security needs. Mr. Meena said 10,727 metric tonnes of wheat have been procured up to March 27 this rabi season. He said the FCI estimates procurement of …

Govt. to offload additional 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in open market to cut prices
2 years, 1 month ago

Govt. to offload additional 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in open market to cut prices

The Hindu  

The Centre on February 21 announced it will offload an additional 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in the open market to bring down the prices of wheat and wheat flour. On January 25, the Centre had announced sale of 30 lakh tonnes of wheat in the open market from its buffer stock to check rise in prices of wheat and …

Govt to sell 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in open market to bring down prices
2 years, 1 month ago

Govt to sell 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in open market to bring down prices

India TV News  

In order to control price rise, the government has said that it will sell an additional 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in open market to bring down prices of wheat and wheat floor. "So far, 50 lakh tonnes of wheat have been decided to be offloaded under the OMSS. The reduction in reserve price along with additional offloading of 20 …

FCI to Offer 11.72 Lakh Tonnes Wheat Stock to Bulk Consumers in 3rd E-auction on Feb 22
2 years, 1 month ago

FCI to Offer 11.72 Lakh Tonnes Wheat Stock to Bulk Consumers in 3rd E-auction on Feb 22

News 18  

State-owned Food Corporation of India will offer 11.72 lakh tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers like flour millers during the third e-auction to be held next week, the food ministry said on Saturday. FCI plans to sell 25 lakh tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers under the Open Market Sale Scheme till March-end as part of the government’s measure to …

India to offer 3 million tonnes wheat to bulk consumers to cool prices
2 years, 2 months ago

India to offer 3 million tonnes wheat to bulk consumers to cool prices

Live Mint  

India will provide 3 million tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers such as flour millers, as part of efforts to bring down prices, which jumped to a record high on Wednesday, a government official told Reuters. "There's this consensus that bulk users will be allowed to buy up to 3 million tonnes of wheat from government stocks," said the official …

Union govt plans to release 15-20 lakh tons of wheat from FCI to contain rising prices in 2023
2 years, 3 months ago

Union govt plans to release 15-20 lakh tons of wheat from FCI to contain rising prices in 2023

India TV News  

Rising retail prices: In an attempt to contain rising retail prices under the Open Market Sale Scheme, the Union government is planning to release 15-20 lakh tonnes of wheat from the Food Corporation of India stock for bulk consumers like flour millers in 2023. Under the OMSS policy, the government permits the state-run FCI to occasionally sell foodgrains, particularly wheat …

Wheat stocks may be 80% higher than buffer requirement by April 23: Piyush Goyal
2 years, 8 months ago

Wheat stocks may be 80% higher than buffer requirement by April 23: Piyush Goyal

Live Mint  

The wheat stocks in Food Corporation of India godowns is expected to be 134 lakh tonnes at the start of FY23-24, 80 per cent more than the buffer norm, said the government on 22 July. Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, in a written reply to Rajya Sabha, said that the central pool stock of wheat as on July …

Grain of Truth: Age-Old Rules Keep Punjab's Wheat Procurement Low despite High Demand amid Ukraine War
2 years, 11 months ago

Grain of Truth: Age-Old Rules Keep Punjab's Wheat Procurement Low despite High Demand amid Ukraine War

News 18  

Punjab is witnessing sluggish wheat procurement this Rabi season, with only 50% of the 132 lakh metric tonnes procurement target met, even as private players are making more aggressive purchases. According to sources, the market uncertainty caused by the Ukraine-Russia war situation could have been a boon for farmers in Punjab, but “age-old rules” were hindering it. OTHER STATES BENEFIT …

Wheat procurement down 32% till Apr 17; private firms buying more grains for exports
2 years, 11 months ago

Wheat procurement down 32% till Apr 17; private firms buying more grains for exports

The Hindu  

The Centre's wheat procurement declined 32% to 69.24 lakh tonnes till April 17 of the current rabi marketing year as private companies are buying grains aggressively for exports, according to official sources. As per the official data, about 69.24 lakh tonnes of wheat has been purchased by the government agencies till April 17 of the ongoing 2022-23 rabi marketing season …

Govt procures record 433.24 lakh tonne wheat in 2021-22
3 years, 8 months ago

Govt procures record 433.24 lakh tonne wheat in 2021-22

India TV News  

The Centre on Monday said it has set a record in wheat procurement at 433.24 lakh tonne so far in the ongoing 2021-22 rabi marketing season. In paddy procurement too, the government has procured a record 862.01 lakh tonne till July 4 of the 2020-21 kharif marketing season. Elaborating more, FCI Chairman and Managing Director Atish Chandra said 433.24 lakh …

UP: Yogi government procures 53.8 lakh MT wheat, breaks own record
3 years, 9 months ago

UP: Yogi government procures 53.8 lakh MT wheat, breaks own record

Op India  

Amidst the ongoing ‘farmers’ protests in and around the national capital, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has broken its own record in wheat procurement this year by purchasing 53.80 lakh metric tonnes of wheat in the current season. This is the highest wheat procurement in any given year with the previous high being 52.92 lakh metric tonnes in …

Amid Months-long Farmers Stir, Govt Buys Record 418.47 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat at MSP for Rs 82,648 Cr
3 years, 9 months ago

Amid Months-long Farmers Stir, Govt Buys Record 418.47 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat at MSP for Rs 82,648 Cr

News 18  

The Centre on Wednesday said it has procured a record 418.47 lakh tonnes of wheat so far in the current marketing year that started in April, costing exchequer Rs 82,648 crore. Till June 8, the government has purchased 418.47 lakh tonnes of wheat as against 373.22 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year. "About 46 lakh farmers …

In a First, Lakhs of Farmers in Punjab Receive Direct Payment for Their Wheat Produce
3 years, 11 months ago

In a First, Lakhs of Farmers in Punjab Receive Direct Payment for Their Wheat Produce

News 18  

Despite initial reluctance of the Punjab government to accept Direct Benefit Transfer mode for payment of the Minimum Support Price, the process seems to be yielding rich dividends for lakhs of farmers in the State. In the first few days of online transfer of the MSP for the wheat procured by the Food Corporation of India, the Centre has been …

Govt hikes MSP for Rabi crops like wheat and gram
4 years, 6 months ago

Govt hikes MSP for Rabi crops like wheat and gram

India TV News  

The Union Cabinet has approved hike in Minimum Support Price for Rabi crops such as Wheat and Gram. The new farm bills will help farmers widen the range and market area to sell their produce and also negotiate for a better price. The government proposed three new farm bills, out of which two have already been passed in both the …

Govt's wheat procurement touches record high of 38.2 million tonnes
4 years, 9 months ago

Govt's wheat procurement touches record high of 38.2 million tonnes

India TV News  

The government's wheat procurement has touched an all-time record of 38.2 million tonnes so far in the 2020-21 marketing year, with Madhya Pradesh surpassing Punjab as the country's biggest wheat procuring state. Wheat procurement stood at 34.13 million tonnes during the 2019-20 marketing year. Wheat procurement target has been set at 40.7 million tonnes for the current year. According to …

Govt's wheat procurement surpasses last year's level of 34.1 mn tonnes despite COVID hurdles
4 years, 10 months ago

Govt's wheat procurement surpasses last year's level of 34.1 mn tonnes despite COVID hurdles

India TV News  

The government's wheat procurement so far in the 2020-21 marketing year has surpassed the last year's 34.13 million tonnes, surmounting all impediments in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Wheat procurement target has been set at 40.7 million tonnes for the 2020-21 marketing year. In a statement, the food ministry said the overall wheat procurement has touched 34.15 MT as …

Uttarakhand increases wheat MSP by Rs 65 to Rs 1,925 per quintal
5 years, 1 month ago

Uttarakhand increases wheat MSP by Rs 65 to Rs 1,925 per quintal

India TV News  

The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday hiked the Minimum Support Price for wheat by Rs 65 to Rs 1,925 per quintal from Rs 1,860 per quintal. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat gave his nod for the hike in wheat MSP while reviewing preparations for rabi purchase season. He said wheat purchase centres should be set up in time, and also issued …

Centre procures 29 mn tonne of wheat so far this marketing year
5 years, 10 months ago

Centre procures 29 mn tonne of wheat so far this marketing year

India TV News  

The Centre has purchased 29.26 million tonne of wheat from farmers in the ongoing 2019-20 marketing year so far, according to latest government data. The Centre has set the wheat procurement target at 35.7 million tonne for the 2019-20 marketing year on hopes of a record 100 million tonne production this year. As per the data, the FCI and state …

Govt targets to procure 32 million tonnes wheat in 2018-19
7 years, 1 month ago

Govt targets to procure 32 million tonnes wheat in 2018-19

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The government on Thursday fixed wheat procurement target at 32 million tonne for 2018-19 marketing year starting April, as against 30.82MT purchased by state-owned FCI during 2017-18. “In consultation with the states, it has been decided to keep an estimate of 32MT of wheat procurement during 2018-19 marketing year,” the statement said. Wheat procurement target, however, is higher …

Govt agencies may miss this year’s 33 MT wheat procurement target: Report
7 years, 10 months ago

Govt agencies may miss this year’s 33 MT wheat procurement target: Report

India TV News  

Government agencies are likely to miss the target of procuring 33 million tonnes of wheat this year, according to a report in The Economic Times. The report said that during the rabi marketing season this year, agencies have so far purchase 29.26 MT of wheat and they are confident of procuring 30 MT this year. Citing officials of the Food …

Negligible wheat procurement by govt agencies, farmers harried
9 years, 11 months ago

Negligible wheat procurement by govt agencies, farmers harried

Hindustan Times  

Already worried due to mounting losses due to untimely rain, farmers are being forced to sell their wheat production to private agents below the minimum support price as government agencies are shying away from mandis in the district. So far, government agencies have procured only 569 metric tonnes of wheat from the Kapurthala district, while on the same day last …

Centre asks States to release 2.7 million tonnes of wheat
12 years, 4 months ago

Centre asks States to release 2.7 million tonnes of wheat

India TV News  

New Delhi, November 17: Food Corporation of India on Saturday said it has asked the State governments to release nearly 2.7 million tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers, such as flour mills and biscuit makers, to control retail price. Last week, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved sale of 6.5 million tonnes of wheat under open market sale …

More wheat in private hands
18 years, 9 months ago

More wheat in private hands

The Hindu  

The decision to import wheat reflects the government's failure to procure enough wheat after the last harvest. The criticism against the government is that its failure to procure wheat has allowed private trade to make unprecedented purchases in the major wheat-growing areas in northern India. Even as the current crisis was brewing, between February and April the FCI sold seven …

Discover Related