Page 2 - Wheat

High temperature unlikely to damage wheat crops: Food Secy Sanjeev Chopra

Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra asserted that wheat crops are unlikely to get damaged although temperatures are little bit on higher side and exuded confidence of achieving a record output of 112 million tonne in this crop year ending June. The secretary said the ban on wheat exports would continue, boosting the availability of grains for the government procurement. He said the government would procure around 35 million tonne of wheat in 2023-24 marketing year (April-March). The bulk of procurement of wheat, a major rabi crop, takes place between April and June. Chopra said wheat prices have come down and would ease further after the arrival of new crop. "(On Wednesday), we had a meeting with state food secretaries, which was followed by a meeting with state food ministers. And what we have discovered in the meeting is that the food scenario in the country is very, very comfortable," Chopra said on the sidelines of an event on Thursday evening. The weather department made a

Centre fixes wheat procurement target at 34.15 million tonnes for 2023-24

The government has fixed a wheat procurement target of 34.15 million tonnes for the 2023-24 marketing year starting April, higher than 18.79 million tonnes purchased in the previous year. The target was fixed in the meeting of state food secretaries held alongside state food ministers' conference here to discuss procurement arrangements. The meeting was chaired by Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra. Out of the total wheat procurement target for the 2022-23 marketing year (April-March), Punjab will aim to procure 2.5 million tonnes wheat, Haryana 1.5 million tonnes and Madhya Pradrsh 2 million tonnes, the food ministry said in a statement. Wheat procurement had declined last year due to a fall in domestic production and higher exports. However, the government has projected a record wheat production at 112.18 million tonnes in the 2023-24 crop year (July-June) as per the second estimate of the agriculture ministry. Besides wheat, the government has also fixed rabi (winter) rice procureme

Govt says wheat crop condition 'normal' so far; plans to procure 34.1 mt

Sources said that the target is flexible and will depend on the quantum of wheat that arrives in the mandis

FCI sells 540,000 tonnes of wheat under OMSS in 4th round of auction

State-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) sold 5.40 lakh tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers like flour millers in the fourth round of e-auction held on Wednesday. In the previous three rounds, about 18.05 lakh tonnes of wheat was sold under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to bulk users as part of steps to cool down retail prices of the foodgrain and wheat flour. The next weekly e-auction will be held on March 8. "Total quantity of 11.57 lakh tonne wheat was offered and 5.40 lakh tonne wheat has been sold to 1,049 bidders in 23 states," an official statement said. Wheat was sold at an all-India weighted average reserve price of Rs 2,137.04 per quintal during the 4th auction. Maximum demand was for wheat quantities in the range of 100 to 499 tonnes, it added "The overall price quoted during the auctions suggests that the market has cooled down and is below Rs 2,200 per quintal on average," the statement noted Till February-end, about 14.35 lakh tonne wheat was lifted by bidders.

Heat alert

No apparent impact, but March weather crucial for wheat

Centre's wheat procurement to be normal next season: FCI chairman

According to FCI data, the corporation has so far managed to sell roughly 1.8 mt of wheat, of the earmarked 3 mt, in the first three auctions that are about 60 per cent of the allocated quantity

Government auctions 500,000 metric tonnes of wheat for Rs 2,172 per quintal

An amount of Rs 1,086.1 crore was realised during the third e-auction.AThe fourth e-auction would be held on March 1

No concern for wheat if temp prevails below 35-degree C in mid-March: IARI

Amid concerns over the impact of rising temperature on wheat yields, government-research body IARI on Wednesday said the situation is not alarming right now even as it advised farmers to be ready to take contingent measures like light irrigation in case of temperature soars beyond 35-degree celsius in mid-March. Wheat, a major rabi (winter) crop, would be ready for harvest next month. As the Met office has forecast rising temperatures in parts of the country, farmers are worried about a repeat of last year when the heatwave hit the crop yields. Speaking with PTI, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Director A K Singh said: "The IMD (India Meteorological Department) has forecast that temperature would remain 2-degree celsius above normal but below 35-degree celsius till the first fortnight of March. A below 35-degree celsius temperature is not a concern for the wheat crop." IARI's agriculture and weather scientists explained heat is a major concern during the crop maturity

Centre sets up panel to protect wheat as farms gear up for heat wave

The states that could see a possible heatwave are in the Northwest region mostly, which is India's main food bowl plain and comprises Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh

India guards wheat crop after extreme heat scorched fields last year

Several parts of the country are witnessing unusually warm weather for this time of the year, including in the biggest wheat-growing areas

Govt to offload 2 million tonnes more wheat in open market to cool prices

The proposal to add wheat stocks in the open market was taken by a group of ministers, sources said

Revision in crop production estimates raises questions on credibility

Crop estimates have been way off the mark between the first and subsequent estimates and over the years this divergence has grown

Wheat prices drop by 20% since FCI's open sale scheme, shows data

Going forward, prices will depend on wheat crop production following the sudden sharp increase in temperature across several parts of North and Central India

India limits wheat exports through the govt route as prices rise

This is starting from November last year

FCI to offer 1.17 MT wheat to bulk consumers in 3rd e-auction on Feb 22

State-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) will offer 11.72 lakh tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers like flour millers during the third e-auction to be held next week, the food ministry said on Saturday. FCI plans to sell 25 lakh tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) till March-end as part of the government's measure to check rise in domestic prices. In the last two weekly e-auctions, about 12.98 lakh tonnes wheat was sold, out of which 8.96 lakh tonnes has already been lifted by the bidders which has resulted in cooling down of retail prices of wheat and atta. In a statement, the food ministry said FCI will offer 11.72 lakh tonnes of wheat from 620 depots across the country during the third e-auction to be held at 11 am on February 22. Bidders, who have registered themselves on the e-portal of M-Junction by 10 pm on February 17, will be allowed to participate in the e-auction on February 22, it said. The last date for deposit and uploading of ..

Mercury to rise 2-4 degrees over next 5-6 days; 35% rain deficit this year

Even in the October-December period, post-monsoon rainfall has been below par

HUL to sell Annapurna, Captain Cook for Rs 60.4 crore; exits atta, salt biz

FMCG major HUL on Friday announced selling of its Annapurna and Captain Cook brands to Singapore-based Uma Global Foods for Rs 60.4 crore to exit from non-core atta and salt business. It has signed an agreement for the sale of its atta and salt business carried out under the brands 'Annapurna' and 'Captain Cook', respectively, the company said in a statement. "HUL's decision to divest is in line with the stated intent of exiting non-core categories while continuing to drive its growth agenda in the packaged foods business of dressings, scratch cooking and soups," said HUL. About consideration received from sale of the two brands, HUL said it is Rs 60.4 crore. In the financial year 2021-22, both the brand had a turnover of Rs 127 crore and had contributed less than one per cent of HUL's turnover, it said. "The brands are being sold to Uma Global Foods Pte Ltd, and Uma Consumer Products Private Ltd. which are subsidiaries of Reactivate Brands International, a Singapore-headquartere

Govt further cuts reserve price of FCI wheat to Rs 2,150 per quintal

States are allowed to purchase wheat from FCI for their own scheme at the proposed reserve prices without participating in e-auction

Minimum temperatures in North to rise by 2-4 degrees from Feb 16: IMD

A abnormally, high temperature over the next one months or so could have an impact on the yield of standing wheat crop mainly in North India

Govt cuts reserve price of FCI wheat to Rs 2,150 per quintal for bulk users

The government on Friday further reduced the reserve price of FCI wheat to Rs 2,150 per quintal for bulk consumers under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) in a bid to check prices. According to the food ministry, the reserve price of fair and average quality (FAQ) wheat has been reduced to Rs 2,150 while for Under Relaxed Specifications (URS) wheat to Rs 2,125 per quintal. These rates will be applicable till March 31, the ministry said. State-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) is offloading 25 lakh tonnes of wheat to bulk users under the OMSS. "Reduction in reserve price will help in reducing market price of wheat and wheat products for consumers," the ministry said. States are allowed to purchase wheat from FCI for their own scheme at above proposed reserve prices without participating in e-auction, it added. On February 10, the ministry had done away with freight charges and kept the reserve price of FCI wheat uniformly at Rs 2,350 per quintal to bulk users pan-India through