India to free up extra 10 mn tonne wheat in open market

Govt buys rice and wheat from farmers to build reserves and to sell subsidised food to poor

India will free up another 10 million tonnes of wheat in the open market, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Thursday after a cabinet meeting, as part of efforts to keep a lid on food prices.

The government buys rice and wheat from local farmers to build reserves and to sell subsidised food to the poor.

India's retail food inflation eased to 7.97% in June from 9.56% in May after the government took steps to check hoardings and curb exports of onions and potatoes.