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Informist, Thursday, Apr. 2, 2026

 

By Shreya Shetty

 

MUMBAI – Wheat prices were mixed in key spot markets with rates down in Kota in Rajasthan on higher arrivals and steady in Maharashtra's Vashi, traders said. Rice prices were also steady in Vashi due to low market activity, they said. Maize prices were unavailable as most markets were shut for Hanuman Jayanti, they said.

 

WHEAT prices in Kota fell by INR 30-INR 40 per 100 kilograms to INR 2,320-INR 2,410 per 100 kg, said Ravi Mehta, a local trader. Arrivals rose by 25,000 bags to 175,000 bags (1 bag = 50 kg), he said. Prices are weighed down by the rise in arrivals of the new rabi crop, as the recent damage to the grain is compelling farmers to sell their crop in the market rather than sell it to the government, he said.

 

The ongoing wet spell in many parts of the country — and in particular the key wheat-producing regions in north India — has damaged some of the new rabi crop, Mehta said. Exposure to prolonged moisture has caused lustre damage to the crop, he said. "The Madhya Pradesh government does not buy damaged crop, even if it is slightly lower in quality," he said. It is easier for farmers to sell their damaged crops in the spot market. "The colour of the grain and the slight moisture presence does not bother millers — they need to process it into flour anyway," he said. 

 

Lustre damage in wheat is the loss of the grain's natural, glossy shine, often caused by unseasonal rain, high moisture, or hailstorms during maturity. This damage leads to grain shrivelling, discolouration, increased enzyme activity, and susceptibility to pests, often resulting in lower market prices. "Also, millers won't purchase lower quality wheat at higher prices, especially when there is plenty of supply already," Mehta said.

 

Wheat prices in Vashi were unchanged at INR 2,600 per 100 kg, said Devendra Vora, a local trader. Prices of various varieties of RICE were also steady in the market, he said. Prices of 1401 basmati rice were at INR 8,500–INR 8,700 per 100 kg, 1121 basmati at INR 9,400–INR 9,500 per 100 kg, and 1509 basmati rice at INR 8,500 per 100 kg. Prices of both grains are steady amid low market activity, with most market participants away for Hanuman Jayanti, he said.

 

Indore market in Madhya Pradesh was closed, said Gaurav Kochar, a local trader. The market in Davangere, Karnataka, was also closed, Shiva Kumar, a local trader, said. End

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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