Wheat stock in central pool close to minimum threshold amid low procurement

Grain inventory in central pool, as on July 1, 2022, lowest since 2019

The wheat stocks in the Central pool as on July 1 dropped precariously close to the minimum required to maintain a healthy operational buffer stock and strategic reserves, due to low procurement and fall in production in the 2021-22 crop marketing year.

The rice stocks during the same period are, however, higher than the buffer and strategic reserve norms by a long margin (134 per cent up).

July 1 usually sees the peak stock levels of wheat because it comes after the main procurement months of April, May, and June. The latest data shows that the wheat stocks as on July 1