The Central Government has amended the existing order on wheat stockholding limits to ensure better management of wheat supplies across the country. This amendment comes into effect immediately.
The amended order applies to all States and Union Territories. The stockholding limit for wheat has been extended until March 31, 2025.
Revised stockholding limits are as follows:
- Trader/Wholesaler: Maximum of 1,000 Metric Tonnes (MT)
- Retailer: Maximum of 5 MT per retail outlet
- Big Chain Retailer: Maximum of 5 MT per outlet, with a combined limit of (5 MT x total number of outlets) across all outlets and depots.
- Processor: Maximum of 50% of their Monthly Installed Capacity (MIC) multiplied by the remaining months until April 2025.
All legal entities mentioned above (traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers, and processors) are required to declare their current wheat stockholdings on the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DoFPD) portal. Entities exceeding the prescribed limits must bring their stocks within the limit by December 26, 2024.
The Government’s decision to extend stockholding limits and revise them for various stakeholders aims to ensure a balanced supply of wheat in the market. This measure can help prevent shortages and price fluctuations while allowing businesses to maintain a buffer stock for their operations.
