New Delhi. The pace of wheat arrivals in important mandis of major producing states has slowed down, but still, due to weak demand from flour millers during the week of August 16-22, there was stability or softness in the prices of this important food grain.

In Madhya Pradesh, only in Dewas Mandi, the price of wheat jumped by Rs 250 to Rs 2650/3150 per quintal, while the price in Itarsi remained weak by Rs 20.

In Rajasthan, the price of wheat in Kota Mandi fell by Rs 25 to Rs 2575/2675 per quintal, while the market remained calm in Baran and Bundi. The arrival of wheat in these mandis has reduced considerably. As far as Uttar Pradesh is concerned, due to sluggish business in most of its mandis, stability or softening in prices was seen, while in one or two mandis, an improvement of Rs 5 was recorded.

The price of wheat in the mandis of different states has remained stable to a great extent, but the government support price is running above Rs 2425 per quintal. The government is satisfied with the current situation of the mandis and hence is postponing the sale of wheat under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). The focus of millers processors is on government wheat. The auction sale of rice in OMSS has started from August 6 itself, but no decision has been taken on wheat yet.

The central government has a surplus stock of about 50-60 lakh tonnes of wheat which can be sold under OMSS. The reserve price for this has been determined but no concrete indication is being given as to when the sale will start. The government wants to take a decision on this only when the prices in the mandis are very high, hence there is a delay in starting its sale.