State-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) has decided to sell wheat to bulk customers in June in Punjab and Haryana, and in July in other states such as Madhya Pradesh.
The move was made to liquidate surplus stocks and improve supply in the open market, according to a report.
Starting April 1, FCI began offloading wheat under the open market sale scheme (OMSS) to non-wheat-producing states.
A government official said FCI has only been able to sell 400 tons of wheat to non-wheat-growing states as of May 28.
“In major wheat surplus states -- Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh -- FCI will ensure conduct of weekly e-auctions for sale of wheat," the official said.
"Besides continuing sale of wheat in non-wheat-producing states, FCI will take action to liquidate surplus stock of wheat from its depots located in Punjab and Haryana during the period of June 2015 to March 2016," the Food Ministry said.
As of May 1, FCI had stocks of 34.1 million tons of wheat. The requirement is 21 million tons.
In 2014-15, FCI sold 4.5 million tons of wheat vs. the target of 10 million tons. In 2013-14, it sold 6.1 million tons.
