India May Import Wheat, Months After PM's Promise To "Feed World": Report

Even before PM Modi's pledge to "feed the world", a record-breaking heatwave that started in March was threatening Indian wheat output.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi boldly declared that India was ready to "feed the world" after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Less than four months later, the government needs to consider grain imports.

Even before PM Modi made his pledge, a record-breaking heatwave that started in March was threatening Indian wheat output. That cut production and pushed up local prices, making everyday life more expensive for hundreds of millions of Indians that use the grain to make staple foods like naan and chappatis.

Indications that a bumper wheat harvest wasn't going to eventuate prompted the government to restrict exports in mid-May. State reserves have declined in August to the lowest level for the month in 14 years, according to Food Corporation of India, while consumer wheat inflation is running at close to 12%.

The looming shortage and rising prices now have authorities making preparations to buy from overseas. Government officials are discussing whether to cut or abolish a 40% import tax on wheat to help flour millers in some regions to import grain, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified as the talks are private. This was first reported by Reuters.