Exporting grains out of central pool may lead to broken pledges

The move may violate 2013, 2015 vows and can risk drawdown in wheat inventory

The government’s offer to supply grains to the world, apparently from its stocks, if the World Trade Organization relaxes rules, could violate its commitments made in 2013 and 2015, and risk a drawdown in its wheat inventories if state procurement falters in the coming months due to high market rates, said trade experts and market watchers.

Trade sources said wheat production in 2022-23 (FY23) could be lower than the estimated over 111 million tonnes (mt) due to a sudden and sharp rise in temperatures in some parts of North India.

India has seldom exported grains from its central pool stocks, except for