Acute shortage of marketable wheat in Punjab, one of the largest producers of the winter crop, has led to a 20% rise in the prices of wheat-based products, including wheat flour and bread in the state in the last fortnight.
State flour millers and bread manufacturers have sought release of sufficient quantity of wheat from the Centre to rein in the spiralling prices.
In the past fifteen days, the rate of wheat flour has increased by 20% to Rs17 per kg while 'maida' prices have gone up by Rs3 per kg to Rs18 per kg, flour millers said.
Bakeries have raised the rates of bread by Rs1 to 2 per unit from November 1 onwards and they may revise rates further if the supply situation remains the same.
To tide over the immediate shortage flour mill owners and bread manufacturers are buying wheat from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Comments