The government, on Thursday, assured the people that it has sufficient food grain stocks under the central pool to meet the requirement of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and its other welfare Schemes as well as for additional allocation of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY).

About 159 LMT of wheat will be available as on 1 January 2023, which is well above the buffer norm requirement of 138 LMT of 1 January. As on 12 December, around 182 LMT of Wheat is available in the central pool, an official press note said.

”(The) Government of India is well aware of the price scenario of wheat and is constantly monitoring it regularly on a weekly basis along with other commodities and taking corrective measures, as and when required.

(The) Government of India has taken proactive steps to ward off any further price rise and export regulations were imposed with effect from 13 May 2022. Further, the allocations under NFSA as well as PMGKAY have also been revised in favour of rice for having sufficient wheat stock in the central pool to cater to the requirements of welfare schemes,” the press note added.

The government has enhanced the MSP of wheat crop this year to Rs. 2125 per quintal against the last year MSP of Rs. 2015 per quintal for RMS 2022-23.

”Thus, the increase in MSP of Rs. 110 per quintal coupled with fairly good climatic conditions, it is expected that the production and procurement of wheat during the next season shall remain normal. Procurement of wheat next season would commence from April 2023 and as per initial assessment there has been a fair increase in the sowing of wheat crop as compared to last year,” the press note said.

The Centre has ensured that sufficient stock of food grains are available in the central pool to meet the requirement of all the welfare schemes across the country and prices remain under control.

Though the procurement of wheat during the last season was on lower side due to lesser production coupled with selling by farmers at prices higher than MSP in the open market consequent to geo-political situation, yet enough stock of wheat will still be available in the central pool to cater to the needs of the country till the time next wheat crop arrives.