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The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Don't believe rumours; enough stocks of grains, edible oil, sugar, pulses with Centre: Joshi
Urging people not to fall prey to misleading reports, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said in New Delhi on Friday (May 9, 2025) that there is no shortage of essential commodities in the country. He said the country currently has stocks many times higher than the normal requirement, 'whether it is rice, wheat, or pulses such as chana, tur, masoor, or moong.' 'There is absolutely no shortage, and citizens are advised not to panic or rush to the markets to purchase food grains,' he said in a statement. Also read: Operation Sindoor updates on May 9, 2025 He asked people not to believe in propaganda messages regarding food stocks in the country. 'We have ample food stocks, far exceeding required norms. Don't pay heed to such messages. Traders, wholesalers, retailers or business entities which engage in trading of essential commodities are directed to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. Any person indulging in hoarding or stockpiling shall be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act,' the Minister said. The Food Ministry said in a statement that the current rice stock stands at 356.42 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) against a buffer norm of 135 LMT. 'Similarly, wheat stock is 383.32 LMT against a buffer norm of 276 LMT, thus demonstrating a strong surplus over the required buffer norms, ensuring nationwide food security,' the Ministry said, adding that the country currently holds approximately 17 LMT of edible oil stocks. 'Domestically, the availability of mustard oil is ample during the ongoing peak production season, further supplementing edible oil supply,' it added. On sugar, the Ministry said the ongoing sugar season started with a carry-over stock of 79 LMT. 'Production is estimated at 262 LMT, after accounting for the diversion of 34 LMT for ethanol production. As of now, around 257 LMT of sugar has already been produced. Considering the domestic consumption of 280 LMT and exports of 10 LMT, the closing stock is expected to be around 50 LMT which is more than the consumption of two months. The production outlook for the 2025–26 sugar season is also promising due to favourable climatic conditions,' the Ministry said.
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Centre brings raw sugar into regulatory ambit
The Union government, on Thursday (May 1, 2025), reviewed the Sugar (Control) Order of 1966 by bringing raw sugar into its ambit of regulation. Raw sugar will now be considered in the total stock of sugar across the country and the figures of the actual stock will also be available to the public. By the decision, the Centre hopes to put a stop to giving misleading names of raw sugar, which is gaining popularity and sold by the name of khandsari or organic. Briefing reporters about the decision, a senior Food Ministry official khandsari sugar units having crushing capacity more than 500 Tons of Cane per Day (TCD) has been included in the Sugar Control Order of 2025. 'Inclusion will ensure payment of fair and remunerative price to the farmers by khandsari sugar factories and will help in the accurate estimation of sugar production. A total of 373 khandsari units (with total capacity of about 95,000 TCD) are working in the country. Out of which, 66 (with total capacity of about 55,200 TCD) are more than 500 TCD,' the Ministry added in a release. Along with this, different kinds of by-products such as cane bagasse, cane molasses, press mud cake or any other alternative product including ethanol (produced from cane molasses, sugarcane juice, sugar syrup, sugar) affecting sugar production from sugarcane are also included in the order. 'Government will be able to regulate the diversion of sugar to ensure sufficient availability of sugar for domestic consumption,' the official said. The order provides definitions to sugar, plantation white sugar, refined sugar, khandsari sugar, gur or jaggery, bura sugar, cube sugar, icing sugar, which are taken from the Food Safety Standard Authority of India. The Centre hopes that such definitions will ensure the uniformity in definition of various products.
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Business Standard
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Govt to put gur, khandsari under Control Order regulation, help farmers
The Central government has decided to notify draft amendments to the Sugar Control Order of 1966, said its Food Secretary on Thursday, seeking to streamline regulations and prod gur and khandsari units to pay farmers fairly. The amendments will enable the government to bring around 66 large gur and khandsari (unrefined raw sugar) units within the Control Order. The units have a sugarcane crushing capacity of at least 500 TCD (tonnes crushed per day) and are largely located in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The step will ensure payment of fair and remunerative prices to cane farmers and help in accurate estimation of sugar production. Around 31 per cent of India' annual sugarcane production of 435 million tonnes is consumed by the gur, khandsari and jaggery units. "This revision aims to simplify and streamline the regulatory framework governing the sugar sector in line with current industry dynamics and technological advancements," said Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra on Thursday. It will ensure cane farmers receive fair and remunerative prices from khandsari factories on the basis of improved accuracy in sugar production estimates, he said. According to Ashwani Srivastava, Joint Secretary in the Food Ministry, India has 373 khandsari units with a total capacity of about 95,000 TCD. "Out of these, 66 units have a capacity of more than 500 TCD. They will now be regulated under the order," Srivastava said, adding that these units will need to register on the digital National Single Window System (NSWS). The units will have two months to register on NSWS. Various byproducts, like cane bagasse, molasses, press mud cake and ethanol, have been included in the control order. The amended order incorporates definitions from the Food Safety Standard Authority of India for various sugar products and includes clauses related to sugar price regulation, previously part of a separate order. Sugar exports Mills might end up exporting 0.8 million tonnes of sugar — one million tonnes is allocated for 2025-26 season — due to low demand. The balance 0.2 million tonnes will be ploughed back into the country. India has so far exported 0.3 million tonnes of sugar this year.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt to review restoration of PDS wheat supply after procurement ends
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Centre will review the restoration of wheat entitlements under the Public Distribution System (PDS) after the ongoing procurement drive concludes, according to a top food ministry agriculture ministry has projected a record wheat production of 115 million tonnes for the 2024-25 crop year (July-June). The Food Ministry is aiming to procure 31.2 million asked if the government will fully restore wheat supply under PDS in view of bumper harvest, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra on Thursday said, "We will have to wait until the procurement is over. So far, 256 lakh tonnes of wheat have been purchased. We will get a clear picture after the procurement operation is over."In 2022, the government reduced wheat supply through PDS following a significant drop in procurement, substituting it with reductions continued through 2023 and into 2024. Partial restoration began in October 2024, with an additional allocation of 35 lakh tonnes until March Secretary said the government has procured 256.31 lakh tonnes of wheat as of April 30, up 24.78 per cent from 205.41 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last government has set a target of 312 lakh tonnes for the 2025-26 rabi marketing season."Procurement has been smooth and good so far. We are hopeful of achieving close to the target of 312 lakh tonne," Chopra asked about lifting the export ban on wheat, Chopra responded: "It is premature to talk about allowing wheat exports."Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), covering 80 crore people, each beneficiary is entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains monthly. The wheat-rice ratio in this allocation is determined based on government on April 30, Punjab leads procurement with 103.89 lakh tonnes, followed by Madhya Pradesh (67.67 lakh tonnes), Haryana (65.67 lakh tonnes), Rajasthan (11.44 lakh tonnes) and Uttar Pradesh (7.55 lakh tonnes).The procurement drive has benefited 21.03 lakh farmers with MSP payments totaling Rs 62,155.96 Secretary highlighted initiatives undertaken to upgrade depots of Central Warehousing Corporation and Food Corporation of India (FCI) depots as smart warehouses The Depot Darpan portal and mobile application are envisaged to ensure that the food storage depots meet the highest quality and performance standards.
Mint
25-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
ASIA RICE-Currency moves buoy Indian, Thai prices but demand still lags
(Repeats story published on Thursday, with no change to text) India rates recover slightly from 22-month low In Vietnam, demand from buyers hasn't picked up, trader says Bangladesh begins purchasing 1.7 million tons of rice from local farmers April 25 (Reuters) - Prices of rice shipped from India and Thailand edged higher this week, aided by currency fluctuations, although gains were capped by subdued demand, while Vietnamese rates were little changed. Indian rice prices recovered from a 22-month-low, with the 5% broken parboiled variety being quoted at $389-$396 per metric ton, up from the last week's $388-$394. Prices were helped as the Indian rupee rose slightly versus the U.S. dollar. Indian 5% broken white rice was priced at $382-$388 per metric ton this week. Buyers from Africa "are on the sidelines. They are trying to clear high cost imports made a few months back," said a Kolkata based exporter. India's state reserves of rice, including unmilled paddy, totalled a record 63.09 million tons as of April 1, far exceeding the government's target of 13.6 million tons. Meanwhile, Thailand's 5% broken rice rose to $410 per ton up from $405 quoted last week due to exchange rates. Price rose due to currency rates, said a Bangkok-based trader. However, "demand has been very very quiet. It's worrying," the trader said, adding that supply this year has been very good, but the problem was with orders. Vietnam's 5% broken rice was offered at $395 per metric ton on Thursday, little changed from $396 a week ago, according to Vietnam Food Association. "Demand from buyers hasn't picked up," a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said, adding that domestic supplies are low. Traders said the government will buy 220,000 tons of rice by the end of June for national reserve. Elsewhere, Bangladesh has begun purchasing 1.7 million tons of rice from local farmers during the current harvesting season to boost its reserves, according to officials from the Food Ministry. Bangladesh, the world's third largest rice producer, is grappling with rising domestic rice prices, which are putting growing pressure on consumers. (Reporting by Anjana Anil in Bengaluru, Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Chayut Setboonsarng in Bangkok, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Ruma Paul in Dhaka; Editing by Sahal Muhammed) First Published: 25 Apr 2025, 07:02 AM IST
