Analysis of Grains (Wheat) at SAAF 2025
20-Jan-2025 04:31 PM
Analysis of Grains (Wheat) at SAAF 2025
★ Highlights from the discussion on cereals at the 3rd South Asia Agri Forum (SAAF) 2025 organised by BSAF in Sri Lanka on 15-16 January 2025.
SAAF 2025 Grains Panel
Manisha Gupta, CNBC TV18, India
Rajiv Kumar, Executive Director, The Rice Exporters Association, India
Rahul Chauhan, Igrain India, India
Eduard Zernin, RUSGRAIN Union, Russian Federation
G K Sood, Meir Commodities, India
Md Ali Rashed, City Commodities, Bangladesh
Atul Chhura, StarAgri, India
★ Production: Expected to reach 1200 lakh tonnes, up from 1100 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.
★ Opening Stock: 132.9 lakh tonnes, with total availability at 13334 lakh tonnes.
★ Consumption & Export: Expected consumption is 1080 lakh tonnes, with a small amount for export, leaving a surplus stock of 250.4 lakh tonnes.
★ Stock: 132.9 lakh tonnes remaining at the end of 2023-24.
★ Sowing Area: As of January 2025, wheat sowing reached 320 lakh hectares, higher than last year's 315 lakh hectares and the 10-year average of 312.3 lakh hectares.
★ Prices: Despite the OMSS scheme, wheat prices hit record levels in January 2025.
★ PMGKAY: 60 lakh tonnes of rice were distributed instead of wheat, reducing the wheat stock from 240 lakh tonnes to 180 lakh tonnes.
★ Tender Sales: In the first six tenders, about 98% of 1 lakh tonnes of wheat were sold weekly; the seventh tender offered 1.5 lakh tonnes.
★ Government Measures: Several circulars were issued between 2023-2025, including stock limits, OMSS sales, and the launch of the Bharat Atta scheme.
★ Stock in Central Pool: As of January 1, 2024, wheat stock in the central pool was 184.11 lakh tonnes.
★ Government Purchases: 266 lakh tonnes of wheat were purchased in 2024-25, 262 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, and 187.92 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.
★ PMGKAY Distribution: 391.98 lakh tonnes of wheat was distributed from April 2020 to December 2022, with 372.72 lakh tonnes sold.
★ Bharat Atta: In the first phase, 15.2 lakh tonnes of wheat flour was distributed at ₹22.5 per kg; in the second phase, the price increased to ₹30 per kg.
★ Experts' Opinion: Wheat prices are currently at their highest, but a good harvest is expected, with a slight decrease in prices.