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Food Reserves Triple: Govt Stocks Soar to 604 Lakh Tonnes
6 May
Summary
- Wheat and rice reserves exceed buffer norms by nearly three times.
- Procurement of wheat and rice from the 2026 rabi season is underway.
- Most rabi commodity wholesale prices are trading below minimum support price.
As of April 1, 2026, India's wheat and rice reserves in FCI godowns reached 604.02 lakh tonnes, substantially exceeding the mandatory buffer of 210.40 lakh tonnes. Rice stocks stood at 386.10 lakh tonnes, far above the 135.80 lakh tonne norm, and wheat reserves were 217.92 lakh tonnes against the 74.60 lakh tonne requirement. These buffer stocks ensure consistent supply for public distribution and welfare schemes.
Wheat harvesting for the 2026 rabi season is nearly complete, with 97% of the sown area harvested. Pulse harvesting has concluded. Paddy harvesting is currently at 59.32%, with key states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana actively involved. Official data indicates that wholesale prices for most rabi commodities are trading below their minimum support prices (MSPs) as of the week ending May 1, 2026. For example, wheat was priced at Rs 2,530 per quintal, below its MSP of Rs 2,585, and paddy prices also saw a decline.
