India's food stocks declined by a massive 39 per cent to 200 lakh tonnes last month against 328 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year.
Wheat stocks fell to a mere 69.31 lakh tonnes from 156.45 lakh tonnes against the buffer requirement of 40 lakh tonnes. Rice stocks also registered a fall to 130 lakh tonnes from 171.57 lakh tonnes, a decline of 24 per cent.
"There is no cause for alarm. Stocks are still higher than the buffer requirement of 158 lakh tonnes and with wheat procurement in full swing, we are in the process of replenishing the stocks," a food ministry official said.
Rice procurement has increased to 186.02 lakh tonnes from 139.28 lakh tonnes, as on April 1 and wheat procurement may cross 200 lakh tonnes.
There has been consistently high offtake in 2003-04 at 479.3 lakh tonnes as against 496.35 lakh tonnes of grains in the previous year.
This included an export offtake of 103 lakh tonnes comprising 72.2 lakh tonnes of wheat and 30.88 lakh tonnes of rice.
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