The Central Government’s wheat procurement will drop by more than half to 19.5 million tonnes in the current rabi marketing year due to higher exports and a likely drop in output, but that there will be no problem meeting domestic demand through the Public Distribution System, Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said on Wednesday.

The secretary also ruled out the prospect of imposing any restrictions on wheat exports, citing the fact that farmers are receiving greater prices for their produce than the Minimum Minimum Support Price (MSP). Pandey, speaking at a press conference here, said: "We don't see why there should be any restrictions on exports.... Wheat shipments are underway, with the government assisting traders "he stated India's wheat is finding new export markets in Egypt, Turkey, and some European Union countries. The shipments are being facilitated by APEDA, he claimed.

In the fiscal year 2021-22, wheat exports reached a new high of 7 million tonnes. Farmers are selling their wheat to private parties for more than the MSP as demand for wheat for export rises. As a result, government entities have reduced their buying.

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