Roller flour mills in Kerala have urged the Centre to release 75,000 tonnes of wheat for their State immediately under the open market sale scheme to meet the heavy demand for wheat products during Onam festival.
In a letter to Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs K.V. Thomas, Kerala Roller Flour Millers Association President P.K. Ahammed said the timely release of wheat to bulk users will help people get flour, maida and sooji at an affordable price.
Pointing out that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) had released only 7,760 tonnes under the open sale scheme to bulk users for August, he said the quantity was meagre. “The actual requirement for Onam is 65,000-75,000 tonnes,” he said.
Ahammed said that the revised guidelines of the FCI to allow bulk consumers to bid for up to 3,000 tonnes wheat, he said it was an unhealthy sign as private traders could disturb the market by diverting it for export.
“Only small retail traders should be allowed to buy wheat up to nine tonnes under the open market sale scheme as in the past. Tender sale to bulk consumers should be to flour mills and other actual users,” he said. The Centre should not have any problem releasing the required stocks since the warehouses were overflowing with wheat inventory, he said.
All the 43 mills in Kerala are facing wheat shortage, while prices for delivery in Kerala have increased to Rs 1,950 a quintal now. The situation is grim that mills face closure if the shortage continues.
Besides, bakeries and sweet houses in Kerala, too, face closure in view of problems in supply of wheat products, Mr Ahammed said.