Enough wheat stock in India; govt to take action against hoarders

Agencies
New Delhi, Sep 19
The government on Monday said there is sufficient wheat stock in the country and that it will take action against hoarders, if
needed, to boost domestic supply.
The Centre may consider steps like asking for disclosure of wheat stocks by traders and imposing stock limits to augment
domestic availability.
Addressing the 82nd AGM of Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, food secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said there is no
problem of wheat in the country and the Centre has 24 million tonne of wheat in godowns of state-owned FCI.
The secretary pointed out that wheat prices have gone up due to “speculative trading”.
Pandey said the government's wheat production forecast is around 105 million tonne in rabi season of 2021-22 crop year (July-
June) while the trade estimates are 95-98 million tonne.
Even if trade estimates are to be believed, Pandey said the production is enough to meet the domestic demand. The country
has exported 4.5 million tonne of wheat so far this fiscal year.
Out of that, 2.1 million tonne were shipped before imposition of ban on wheat exports on May 13. India exported 7.2 million
tonne of wheat in previous fiscal year. “There is no problem of wheat availability within the country. Overall quantity which we need
for domestic requirement is available in the country,” Pandey asserted.
The government will take necessary steps, if needed, to ensure adequate wheat supply in the market, he said. “There has
been an impact on prices because of speculative trading,” he said, adding people have hoarded wheat in anticipation of further
price rise.
Pandey pointed out that wheat is coming slowly into the market as speculators are still hoarding in anticipation of price rise.
“Our wheat stock position is comfortable. We have 24 million tonne in the central pool,” he said.
The government is making efforts to raise wheat production in the coming rabi (winter sown) season.