Lok Sabha Question No. 789 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Ban on Wheat Exports
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Kunwar Danish Ali

## INISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD &  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.789 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7TH FEBRUARYI 2024

## BAN ON WHEAT EXPORTS

## 789.  KUNWAR DANISH ALI:

Will the Minister of eONSUMER  AFFAIRSI FOOD  AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION aV+feET Tm+, ©TT aT TT8Tfqq fqHwr THt be pleased to state:

- (a) the  comprehensive strategy that  has  been adopted by  the Government to  ensure sufficient domestic availability of  wheat and prevent hoarding in view of the ban on wheat exports and the imposition of stock holding limits;
- (b) whether the Government has received any complaints of noncompliance by entities  like  wholesalers, traders, processors and retailers;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  any  corrective  measures have  been  taken  by  the Government to address the issue of non-eompliance and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT  AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a):  in order to ensure sufficient domestic availability of  wheat, Government of India undertakes procurement of wheat from farmers at Minimum Support Price for distribution  to over 80 crore beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, and Other Welfare Schemes, and also for  maintaining adequate buffer as well as strategic  reserves. Excess foodgrain stocks  over and dbove the buffer and strategic  reserve are offloaded through Open Market Sale Schente *(Domestic) [(OMSS (D)] to enhance supplies in the-domestic market and ntaderate prices. In 2023-24, IOI.5  1,MT of wheat has been allocated for release into the open market upto 31.03n2024 under OMSS(D).

In order to manage overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation,  Government of  India has imposed wheat  stock limits on  12th June 2023  which is  applicable to  Traders/Wholesalers, Retailers, Big Chain Retailers and Processors for all  States and Union Territories till  31.3.2024.

## Revised Wheat Stock  Limit  dated 08.12.2023 is as under:

| Entities            | Wheat Stock Lirnit                                                           |
|---------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Traders/Wholesalers | 1000 MT                                                                      |
| Retailers           | 5 MT for each Retail outlet                                                  |
| Big Chain Retailers | 5 MT for each outlet and IOOOMT at all their depot                           |
| Processors          | 70% of monthly installed capacity multiplied by .remaining months of 2023-24 |

(b) to (d):  Inspection of entities  holding stocks of wheat is an ongoing and continuous process and  is  undertaken by  the  respective State/UT Governments as well by officials of the Food Corporation of  India and Department of  Food and Public Distribution,  in  case of  instances of noncompliance such as non-registration on the wheat stock portal, holding stocks above the notified limit  etc., States/UTs have been directed to take appropriate remedial action  under the Essential Commodities Act (1955). ###88