Annual grain purchase halves post-Covid

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Changing lifestyles and rising apartment culture have sharply reduced annual bulk grain purchases in the city. Traders in Mondha say yearly buying has nearly halved since Covid, with daily wheat sales dropping from 5,000 quintals pre-pandemic to 2,000–2,500 quintals now.

After temporary stocking during Covid, consumers shifted to a ‘just-in-time’ monthly purchase pattern due to limited storage space, smaller families and time constraints. Trader Nilesh Somani said the younger generation avoids the effort of drying and storing grains and fears spoilage. Meanwhile, packaged flour sales have surged, mirroring Mumbai-Pune trends. The city currently records daily sales of 60 tonnes of atta, 50 tonnes of maida and 30 tonnes of rava, said trader Chandmal Surana. Despite the shift, traders say annual purchase remains economical, with wheat priced at Rs 2,700–3,200 per quintal this year, about Rs 400 lower than last year.