NEW DELHI, INDIA — India is urging global and domestic traders to refrain from purchasing new-season wheat from local farmers as it attempts to rebuild its depleted reserves, Reuters reported.

The Food Corporation of India, a government-backed entity, sold record quantities of wheat over the past two years to try to curb food inflation, which soared partly because of smaller crops in consecutive years due to dry weather. It also banned wheat exports in 2022, a measure that has remained in place.

As of March, wheat inventories were at 9.7 million tonnes, the lowest level in seven years, according to Reuters.

India, the largest country in terms of population, also has the world’s largest food welfare program, which entitles roughly 60% of its 1.4 billion citizens to free grain. To keep the program functioning, the FCI must maintain large wheat reserves.

The government informally asked private traders to avoid buying wheat at least in April, its first such guidance since 2007, sources told Reuters. Wheat procurement starts tapering off after mid-May.