A worker carries a ladder past sacks filled with wheat at a Food Corporation of India (FCI) warehouse in Punjab. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

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. The revised stock limit is 2,000 Metric Tonne (MT) which had been 3,000 MT so far. Briefing reporters about the decision, Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra blamed “artificial scarcity” created by some people, behind the uptick in prices.

The Centre asked all wheat-stocking entities to register on the wheat stock limit portal and update the stock position every Friday. “Any entity which is found to have not registered on the portal or violates the stock limits will be subject to suitable punitive action under Section 6 & 7 of Essential Commodities Act, 1955,” the Food Ministry said in a release. It added that in case the stocks are at present higher than the prescribed limit, the sellers should bring it down within next 30 days. “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 in the country,” the release said.

Mr. Chopra said some people are holding wheat more than what they need, and creating artificial scarcity in the country, with prices going up unnecessarily. “Currently, wheat prices at retail level are ruling stable at ₹30 per kilogram, on an average. But we are anticipating that with this uptick in the NCDEX prices, there may be a reflection of these prices in the retail market,” he said.

Prices Under Control 

When asked about the retail prices of foodgrains, sugar, and edible oil ahead of the upcoming festivities, he said there will not be any sharp increase in their prices and the Centre has adequate stocks of essential items. He said the government is keeping a close vigil on hoarders. “So my analysis is that in the upcoming festive season, I do not see any kind of a sharp upswing in prices of the commodities that we deal with whether it is wheat or rice or sugar or edible oils,” Mr. Chopra said.

He added that sugar prices are stable but rumours of likely shortage due to weak monsoon in August has resulted in an increase in prices in some areas. “So, this is just to clarify that there’s adequate sugar stock of 85 lakh tonne in the country, which is sufficient for three and a half months’ requirements,” he said. The government has released 25 lakh tonnes of sugar in August, which is two lakh tonnes in excess, Mr. Chopra said. He said the Centre expects bumper production of rice in this kharif season and sugarcane production will also be good in States like Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Supply trucks loaded with wheat wait for unloading at a port in Kandla, in the western state of Gujarat, India, May 17, 2022. REUTERS/Stringer NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The price of wheat has jumped in the international markets after India announced a ban on the export of the staple cereal and due to the reduced production prospects in Ukraine following the Russian invasion, the UN food agency has said.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Price Index averaged 157.4 points in May 2022, down 0.6% from April.

The index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of commonly-traded food commodities, however, remained 22.8% higher than in May 2021.

The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 173.4 points in May, up 3.7 points (2.2%) from April and as much as 39.7 points (29.7%) above its May 2021 value.

“International wheat prices rose for a fourth consecutive month, up 5.6% in May, to average 56.2% above their value last year and only 11% below the record high reached in March 2008,” it said on Friday.

“The steep increase in wheat prices was in response to an export ban announced by India amidst concerns over crop conditions in several leading exporting countries, as well as reduced production prospects in Ukraine because of the war,” it said.

In contrast, international coarse grain prices declined by 2.1% in May but remained 18.1% above their value a year ago.

Slightly improved crop conditions in the United States of America, seasonal supplies in Argentina and the imminent start of Brazil’s main maize harvest led maize prices to decline by 3.0%, however, they remained 12.9 % above their level of May 2021, it said.

International rice prices increased for the fifth successive month in May.

Quotations strengthened in all the major market segments, but monthly increases were least pronounced (2.6%) for the most widely traded Indica varieties, amid ample supplies, especially in India, it said.

The FAO Sugar Price Index declined by 1.1% from April, as a bumper crop in India buoyed global availability prospects.

The weakening of the Brazilian real against the US dollar, along with lower ethanol prices resulted in further downward pressure on world sugar prices.

“The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 120.3 points in May, down 1.3 points (1.1%) from April, marking the first decline after sharp increases registered in the previous two months,” the agency said.

“The recent monthly decline in international sugar price quotations was triggered by limited global import demand and good global availability prospects, mostly stemming from a bumper crop in India,” it said.

Last month, India announced that it was banning wheat exports in a bid to check high prices amid concerns of wheat output being hit by the scorching heat wave.

Wheat exports were allowed on the basis of permission granted by the Indian government to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their governments.

Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan had told the Ministerial Meeting on ‘Global Food Security Call to Action’ chaired by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken under the US Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of May that India is “committed to ensuring that such adverse impact on food security is effectively mitigated and the vulnerable cushioned against sudden changes in the global market. In order to manage our own overall food security and support the needs of neighbouring and other vulnerable developing countries, we have announced some measures regarding wheat exports on 13 May 2022.

“Let me make it clear that these measures allow for export on the basis of approvals to those countries who are required to meet their food security demands. This will be done on the request from the concerned governments. Such a policy will ensure that we will truly respond to those who are most in need,” he added, emphasising that India will play its due role in advancing global food security.