The Centre’s foodgrain stocks of wheat and rice surged to 604.02 lakh tonnes as of April 1, nearly three times the mandated buffer requirement of 210.40 lakh tonnes, according to official data.
The reserves, held in godowns of the Food Corporation of India, include 386.10 lakh tonnes of rice and 217.92 lakh tonnes of wheat, both significantly exceeding their respective buffer norms.
Rice stocks stood far above the prescribed level of 135.80 lakh tonnes, while wheat reserves were nearly three times the required 74.60 lakh tonnes.
Buffer norms are revised on a quarterly basis, with the current thresholds applicable from April 1 and the next revision scheduled for July 1.
The government maintains such reserves to ensure adequate supply under the Public Distribution System and other welfare schemes aimed at food security.
Procurement of wheat and rice from the ongoing 2026 rabi season is currently in progress. Official data indicated that around 97 per cent of the wheat sown area of 334.17 lakh hectares has already been harvested, along with the completion of pulse harvesting.
Also read: India has foodgrain stock three times buffer norms: Govt
Paddy harvesting has reached 59.32 per cent, with activity concentrated in states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Despite robust procurement and stock levels, wholesale prices of most rabi crops are trading below the Minimum Support Price, reflecting subdued market trends.
“All the commodities are currently going below MSP during the week ending May 1,” an official said.
Wheat was trading at Rs 2,530 per quintal, about 2.13 per cent below its MSP of Rs 2,585. Paddy prices declined 3.17 per cent year-on-year to Rs 2,294 per quintal.
Maize witnessed a sharper fall, dropping 23.71 per cent to Rs 1,831 per quintal, well below its MSP of Rs 2,400. Prices of pulses such as arhar and moong, as well as bajra and sunflower, were also below support levels.
The data reflects a scenario of ample supply alongside weaker market prices, even as procurement operations continue across major producing states.
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