Exports of all wheat, including high-protein varieties of durum and normal soft bread wheat, were moved from the “free” to the “prohibited” category with effect from May 13.
The ban on exports also comes at a time when wheat purchases by government agencies have fallen to a 15-year low, with only 18 million tonnes (mt) purchased so far in the current marketing season, compared to a record 43.3 mt in the 2021-22 season. While the wheat marketing season technically runs from April to March, most government purchases at its minimum support price (MSP) run from April to mid-May.
Related: Food prices are rising to record levels
In mid-February, the agriculture ministry estimated the country’s wheat crop in 2021-22 (it will hit the market in 2022-23) at a record 111.3 mt.
Indian farmer in his Wheat field
India has portrayed itself as a solution for the world
Despite all this, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted on April 15 that Indian farmers are overflowing their granaries and are ready to serve the world.
Indian farmers are feeding the world.
Egypt approves India as a wheat supplier. Modi Govt. steps in as world looks for reliable alternate sources for steady food supply.
Our farmers have ensured our granaries overflow & we are ready to serve the world.https://t.co/h56oSc3HDC
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 15, 2022
Another of his tweets on the same day cast India as “the food security soldier”.
India, the food security soldier. 🇮🇳
Egypt has turned to India for its supply of wheat trusting us for quick & quality delivery.
Modi Govt. is leading the response to a surging global demand as our farmers give us an upper hand with a bumper harvest. pic.twitter.com/gFk8bjZ4ky
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 15, 2022
According to local reports, it now appears that farmers have harvested 15-20% less grain than last year.
About 4.5 mt of exports have already been contracted for the current fiscal. Of this, about 1.5 mt was shipped in April. It is not clear how much wheat was exported in the current month before the ban came into force, nor the quantities that will be covered by the transitional measures.
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The export ban may also force farmers who have been holding back crops in anticipation of price increases in the coming months to sell to government agencies at MSP. Indeed, it is possible that farmers have been selling their crops to private traders and companies rather than to government agencies. At the same time, because of the large amount of increase in wheat prices, many of them waited to sell to get a higher price. Well, now it seems that this tactic will not quite work.
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