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Informist, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026

 

--FCI: Feb 1 rice stocks 33.7 mln tn vs 34.0 mln yr ago, 30.9 mln month ago 

--FCI: Feb 1 wheat stocks 25.6 mln tn vs 16.2 mln yr ago, 27.5 mln mo ago 

--FCI: Total food grain stocks 59.3 mln tn as on Feb 1 vs 50.2 mln year ago 

 

NEW DELHI – Food Corp. of India held 25.6 million tonnes of wheat stocks as of Feb. 1, recording a hefty jump of 58% on year, according to the Department of Food and Public Distribution. However, stocks were down 7% from 27.5 million tonnes a month earlier. 

 

The current wheat stocks in the central pool remain well above the buffer norm for the March quarter at 13.8 million tonnes, which includes an operational stock of 10.8 million tonnes and a strategic reserve of 3 million tonnes.

 

Amid comfortable stocks available in the country, the Centre on Feb. 13 opened up wheat exports after a gap of nearly four years and permitted 2.5 million tonnes of wheat to be shipped out of the country. It has also allowed exports of an additional 500,000 tonnes of wheat products, over and above the 500,000 tonnes announced on Jan. 16. India had curbed wheat exports in May 2022. 

                                               

Over the past few years, the government has been rebuilding wheat inventories through active procurement from farmers. The opening stocks for January and February have crossed the 20-million-tonne mark for the first time since 2022. Wheat stocks stood at 25.6 million tonnes as of Feb. 1 this year, compared with 16.2 million tonnes in 2025, 13.3 million tonnes in 2024, and 15.4 million tonnes in 2023. February opening stock was last higher at 28.3 million tonnes in 2022. 

 

Amid ample FCI stocks, the Centre has also removed stock limits on wheat, which have been periodically recurring in the market since 2022, as the government wanted to curb hoarding and check prices.

 

 

Meanwhile, rice stocks as of Feb. 1 in the central pool fell 1% on year to 33.7 million tonnes, but rose 9% on month from 34.0 million tonnes in January. The current rice stocks are also above the buffer norm of 7.6  million tonnes, comprising operational stock of 5.6 million tonnes and strategic reserve of 2.0 million tonnes.

 

FCI and state agencies have about 60.25 million tonnes of unmilled paddy as of Feb. 1, equivalent to around 40.4 million tonnes of rice after milling, according to the food department data. The government buys paddy from farmers, converts it into rice through custom milling procedures. 

 

With surplus rice piling in government godowns and domestic demand remaining subdued, FCI has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with the United Nation's to supply 200,000 tonnes of rice annually to support global humanitarian operations. Under the agreement, prices will be determined annually, with the current prices fixed at INR 2,800 per 100 kg until Mar. 31.

 

Total food grain stocks with FCI as of Feb. 1 were 59.3 million tonnes, up from 50.2 million tonnes a year ago. As of Jan. 1, food grain stocks with the agency were at 58.4 million tonnes, according to the data. The corporation stores essential food grains to ensure food security and to check prices by releasing its stocks through auctions under the open market sales scheme.  End

 

Reported by Afra Abubacker

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

 

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