Hold 140% more wheat in buffer at start of season: Millers to Centre

Suggestion may raise Centre's subsidy burden on storage, stretch limits

- SANJEEB MUKHERJEE

Ahead of the new wheat-sowing season, flour millers have urged the government to hold nearly 140 percent more stocks in the buffer than the current norm of 7.5 million tonnes at the start of the season to curb volatility in prices.

“India requires around 18.4 million tons of wheat every year to meet its PDS requirement. What we are suggesting is that the government build a stock which is equivalent to a full one year requirement at the start of the season itself so that there is certainty in the market and no volatility in prices,” Navneet Chitlangia, president of The Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, said.