According to food secretary Sanjeev Chopra, the Department of Food and Public Distribution is considering relaxing the fair and average quality (FAQ) standards for wheat during the current rabi marketing season.

He added that the field officials are gathering samples to assess the quality of the produce because the quality of wheat has decreased as a result of the unseasonal rains in the key producing areas and the government has received demands to loosen the RFQ requirements. While it has already been granted in Madhya Pradesh, where procurement has already started, the relaxation is being examined for Punjab and Haryana.

The quality of the crop in 16 districts of Punjab and certain areas of Haryana has been impacted by the recent rains and hailstorms, according to Chopra, but the quantity is likely to be unaffected. There might be a slight yield deficiency, he warned.

Unseasonal rainfall, hailstorms, and thunderstorms over the final three weeks of March resulted in some damage to the wheat crop. 66% and 9%, respectively, of the 714 districts where data is collected saw rainfall in substantial excess. About 9% of the area experienced typical rainfall. The crops in other unaffected areas have benefited from the recent cold weather, even though there may be a little decrease in output in Punjab and Haryana. The possibility of higher yield for the late-planted crops in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh,” added Chopra.

India is one of the world’s largest producers of wheat, with an annual production of over 100 million tonnes. Wheat is one of the most important staple crops in India, and its production has increased steadily over the years, thanks to the government’s efforts to promote the use of high-yielding varieties and modern farming techniques.

The major wheat-producing states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar. These states account for about 80% of the total wheat production in the country.

The government of India has implemented various policies and schemes to support wheat farmers in the country. These include the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme, which provides a guaranteed price for wheat to farmers, and the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), which aims to increase the production of wheat and other crops through the adoption of new technologies and farming practices.