Firm foothold

Aim to become a stable wheat supplier

The supply crunch-driven sharp spike in global wheat prices in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict is being viewed as an opportunity for India to step up its wheat exports for the benefit of all stakeholders in this sector. While the government, whose grain coffers are brimming over, is hoping to downsize its inventories to save on the carrying cost of surplus stocks, the private sector is mopping up huge quantities of the freshly harvested grains in anticipation of lucrative exports. The farmers, as a consequence, are getting prices higher than the government-fixed floor rates. Substantial quantities of wheat are