NEW DELHI, INDIA — In an attempt to control food inflation, India is considering selling 2.1 million tonnes of wheat in the open market, government officials told Reuters on Jan. 3, with a final decision coming in the next 10 days.

The intervention is being planned by the government via its open market sale program, which it uses to sell grains at a pre-determined price, according to the report.

A government official told Reuters that the government has about 2.1 million tonnes of surplus wheat over and above the mandated buffer after it decided to discontinue the free foodgrain distribution program that was operational for 28 months. Until April, the government will have 3 million tonnes of surplus wheat for intervention, which would be enough to control prices, the official added.

India’s annual wholesale price-based inflation rate in November eased to its lowest level in 21 months, but wheat prices are still hovering around record highs.