Rice stock increased in central pool- wheat stock decreased

12-Feb-2025 08:34 PM

The stock of food grains in the central pool managed by the Food Corporation of India has shown some interesting changes between January and February 2025.

• Rice Stock: The rice stock has seen a notable increase, rising from 290.92 lakh tonnes on January 1 to 340.06 lakh tonnes on February 1. This increase has contributed to a significant rise in the overall food grain stock.

• Wheat Stock: On the other hand, the stock of wheat has decreased, falling from 184.11 lakh tonnes to 161.74 lakh tonnes during the same period. This drop in wheat stock has been attributed to lower government procurement and ongoing withdrawals.

• Coarse Grains: The stock of coarse grains also saw a decline, dropping from 1.82 lakh tonnes to 1.53 lakh tonnes.

• Overall Stock: Due to the increase in rice stock, the total food grain stock in the central pool has risen from 475.03 lakh tonnes to 501.47 lakh tonnes.

While the stock of wheat is currently declining, it is expected that heavy procurement will start in April 2025. However, the government's procurement of wheat has been less than expected, which might continue to affect the wheat stock. The government has raised the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by Rs 150 to Rs 2425 per quintal for the 2024-25 season, and additional bonuses will be provided to farmers in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, but concerns remain about whether the procurement targets will be met.

This situation will need careful monitoring, especially as the stock of wheat is expected to continue decreasing over the next couple of months before procurement ramps up.