Open Market Sale Scheme

Why is in news? Govt approves proposal for sale of 30 Lakh MTs of wheat under Open Market Sale Scheme

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) will off load 30 LMT wheat from the Central pool stock to the market through various routes under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic).

Offloading of 30 LMT wheat in the market through OMSS (D) scheme within a span of two months through multiple channels will have wider reach as well as immediateimpact on the soaring Wheat and Atta prices and will help containing the rising prices and will bring much relief to the common man.

Open Market Sale Scheme:

OMSS refers to the selling of food grains by the government/government agencies at predetermined prices in the open market from time to time.

This scheme aims to enhance the supply of grains especially during the lean season and thereby to moderate the general open market prices, especially in the deficit regions.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) on the instructions from the Government, sells wheat and rice in the open market from time to time.

Wheat:

Wheat cultivation in India has traditionally been dominated by the northern region of India. The northern states of Punjab and Haryana Plains in India have been prolific wheat producers.

India is today the second-largest wheat producer in the whole world. Various studies and researches show that wheat and wheat flour play an increasingly important role in the management of India’s food economy.

Major wheat-growing states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Gujarat.

World trade in wheat is greater than for all other crops combined. The demand for India's wheat in the world shows a rising trend. The country has exported 7,239,366.80 MT of wheat to the world for the worth of Rs. 15,840.31 crores/ 2,121.72 USD Millions during the year 2021-22.

Major Export Destinations (2021-22): Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, United Arab EMTs, Yemen Republc, Philippines and Indonesia.