Madhya Pradesh farmers selling wheat in distress as FCI suspends purchase

Prices crashed to Rs 1,400 a quintal (fair average quality) against its MSP of Rs 1,600 a quintal

A crash in prices and distress sales of wheat by farmers is reported from Madhya Pradesh, after the Food Corporation of India ended procurement (FCI) last week.

Prices are at Rs 1,400 a quintal for average quality, against the official minimum support price of Rs 1,600 a qtl.

A senior FCI official says at the outset of the procurement season, many farmers did not register themselves with it, amid expectation that the then high price of Rs 1,800 a qtl would continue for the entire season. However, with a bumper crop, prices crashed. And, these farmers had to sell to private traders.