The Indian government has ended its open market wheat sales, selling 2.97 million tonnes out of the 3 million tonnes offered under the Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS). Despite efforts to control prices, wheat rates remain above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,425/quintal.
Bid prices ranged from ₹2,540 to ₹3,275 per quintal in different states, with some regions witnessing a decline while others saw an increase. The government faces challenges in meeting its procurement target of 31 million tonnes for the current season, as private traders are expected to intensify wheat purchases.
The average selling price in OMSS auctions dropped from ₹2,885/quintal in the first round to ₹2,712/quintal in the last auction. The government hopes that bonus incentives in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will boost procurement, but experts remain skeptical about achieving last year’s procurement levels.
