Food stock comfortable, wheat on decline: Survey

Noting that low wheat stocks led to a decline in total foodgrain stocks, the Survey said they were still higher than the buffer norms.

Noting that low wheat stocks led to a decline in total foodgrain stocks at 19 million tonne as on December 1, 2005 as against 21.8 million tonne in the same period of the previous year, the Economic Survey said they were still higher than the buffer norms.

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The procurement of foodgrain was good in 2004-05 with rice procurement at 24.7 million tonne during the Kharif marketing season, the survey tabled in Parliament said.

The rice procurement was higher by two million tonne during 2003-04, it noted.

Wheat procement during 2005-06 Rabi marketing season was down by two million tonne at 14.8 million tonne when compared to 2004-05, the survey said, adding it was decided to import five lakh tonne of wheat to augment its supply in February 2006.

The offtake of foodgrains from central pool at 265.7 lakh tonne during the April 2005 was higher by 1.5 lakh tonne over the corresponding period of the previous year.

The survey said offtake under Antyodaya Anna Yojana was higher by one-third at 45.1 lakh tonne during April-November 2005 against 33.46 lakh tonnes in the same period of 2004.

The retail price of wheat remained steady during 2005-06 (up to December 2005) except some hardening in May, June 2005 across the various centre of the country.

Production of wheat is slated to increase by around three million tonne this year as compared to 72 million tonne during 2004-05, it said adding wheat stocks with FCI and other state agencies at 7.6 million tonne as on Dec 1, 2005 were lower as compared to the same period of 2004.