Wheat price rise normal; have enough stocks to meet demand: Govt

According to FCI, the wheat stock in Central pool on April 1 next year is expected to be 11.3 million tonnes, higher than the buffer requirement of 7.5 million tonnes

The increase in wheat prices in the past few weeks is “normal” on account of a low base because the rates had been “artificially depressed” last year, the Centre on Monday said.

It has ample stocks to intervene in the markets as and when required. “The rates fell last year because Food Corporation of India (FCI) pumped in seven million tonnes of wheat in the open market. Therefore, it is not advisable to compare the current year’s increase with last year’s. It should be compared with prices in 2020,” Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey told reporters.

He said when compared with