Flour millers’ body calls for greater policy stability, stronger industry-government coordination
Chitlangia described the past year as a highly volatile year marked by rising input, logistics and packaging costs driven by global geopolitical tensions, as well as sharp price fluctuations and financial tensions across the value chain, farmers, traders and processors. Margins came under pressure as intense competition in the milling industry limited price pass-through.
He summarized the questions the key industry was asking:
- Stock transparency: Regular publication of cumulative national wheat stock data from the Wheat Stock Portal to support informed decisions and reduce market distortions.
- Predictable OMSS policy: Clarify pricing, quantities and schedules in consultation with stakeholders to avoid ad hoc interventions.
- Export flexibility: Open licenses without restrictive conditions for all wheat products, including bran.
- Export promotion: Freight support and incentives for value-added wheat exports in order to increase capacity utilization and employment.
- Liquidity support: An ECLGS-type program to alleviate financial stress in an environment of tight margins and global uncertainty.
Chitlangia emphasized that the sector is seeking stability and coherent dialogue, not protection, to ensure fair returns for farmers, viable operations for industry and affordable prices for consumers.
The report projects Rabi to increase wheat production in 2025-26 to 1,106.5 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) from 1,096.3 LMT last year. The area under cultivation increased to 348.34 lakh hectares (345.96 lakh ha) and the average yield was 3,176 kg/ha (3,169 kg/ha). Production increases were led by Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana, offset by declines in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar and West Bengal.
Weather disruptions in late March and early April, including unseasonal rain and hail, most severely affected crops in parts of Punjab and West Bengal, with moderate losses in Haryana, Bihar and Rajasthan. Major districts affected included Fazilka, Amritsar, Bathinda and Moga (Punjab) and Dakshin Dinajpur, Maldah, Uttar Dinajpur, Birbhum and Murshidabad (West Bengal) and select districts in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
