Lok Sabha Question No. 3385 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-06
Subject: Less Stock of Wheat
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV, PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA, DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

3385.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3385

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 th  DECEMBER, 2016

## LESS STOCK OF WHEAT

SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV: PROF. PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA: SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  any  assessment  has  been  made  regarding  less  stock  of wheat in the buffer stock in the country and if so, whether the Government proposes to import wheat;
- (b) the rate at which wheat is imported by the Union Government and the rate at which the said wheat is likely to be sold in the market;
- (c) whether due to hike in prices of wheat, the Government has taken decision to sell wheat out of its buffer stock in the open market and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  fixed  the  price  and  the  maximum quantity of wheat to be sold under the said scheme and if so, the quantity of the said wheat likely to be sold in the open market and the maximum retail price of the said wheat likely to be fixed;
- (e) whether  any  assessment  has  been  made  regarding  the  increase  in the demand of wheat during the current year as compared to the last year and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government is unable to know the fluctuations in prices due  to  lack  of  timely  and  actual  information  of  foodgrains  stocked  by domestic and foreign businessmen, and if  so, the scheme proposed by the Government  to  ensure    availability  of  food  items  to  the  people  at  low prices?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

## (a): The  availability  of  wheat  stocks  viz-a-viz  stocking  norms  as  on 01.10.2016

| Commodity   | Stocking norms for 1 st October Stock in Central 01.10.2016   |
|-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| Wheat       | 195.20 LMT 213.28 LMT                                         |

The  Govt.  has  sufficient  wheat  stocks  to  meet  the  requirement  under National  Food  Security  Act  (NFSA)  &  Other  Welfare  Schemes  (OWS)  till commencement of new procurement and there is no proposal at present to import wheat on government account.

- (b):   There is at present no proposal for import of wheat for Central Pool Stock.

(c):    33.10  LMT  wheat  has  been  sold  under  Open  Market  Sale Schemes (Domestic) {(OMSS(D)} by Food Corporation of India (FCI) till 29.11.2016. Department  of  Food  &  Public  Distribution  has  revised  the  foodgrains stocking norms for the Central Pool from November, 2016 to June, 2017 so that the surplus quantity (10 LMT) of wheat may be offered for sale under OMSS(D).

- (d)  Ministry of CA,F & PD set a target of 65-75 lakhs MT of wheat for sale by  FCI  out  of  Central  Pool  stocks  under  OMSS(D)  during  2016-17.  Till 30.11.2016 33.10 LMT wheat has been sold under OMSS(D). As per policy, after keeping the requirement for NFSA & OWS, surplus wheat stocks are to be offered under OMSS(D). Maximum reserve price varies from State to State. Maximum Reserve Price is in Kerala, ranging from Rs. 2007 to 2028 per quintal.
- (e):      During  2016-17,  upto  4 th   e-auction  of  November, FCI has sold 33.10 LMT whereas during 2015-16 upto 4 th  e-auction,  24.77 LMT of wheat was sold.
- (f):    Based  on  timely  information,  the  Government  of  India  has  reduced import  duty  on  wheat  from  25%  to  10%  to  enhance  the  availability  of imported  wheat  stocks  in  domestic  market.  In  addition,  the  FCI  is  also undertaking open market sale of wheat &  rice through e-auction at predetermined reserve price, to ensure availability of foodgrains at low prices.

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