Govt to procure 32 mt wheat

Will also procure 5.5 mt of rabi rice

The central government has set a target of procuring 32 million tonnes (mt) of wheat from farmers in the 2018-19 crop marketing season that starts from April. This is 1 mt less than the target set last year, but more than the actual procurement.

In 2017-18, the government procured around 29.6 million tonnes wheat from farmers, less than the target of 33 million tonnes.

According to a statement released after a meeting of state secretaries with the central government, among the big states, Punjab will purchase 11.9 million tonnes, followed by Haryana (7.4 million tonnes) and Madhya Pradesh (6.7 million tonnes).

Uttar Pradesh, which procured nearly 3.7 mt of wheat in the 2017-18 marketing year that ends in March, has decided to procure around 4 mt in 2018-19, which will be more than the trend of the last few years. The procurement target indicated there might not be a substantial rise in wheat production for 2018-19. Wheat production in 201718 was estimated at 95 mt, while this year the government expects nearly 100 mt of produce on the back of favourable weather.

Wheat acreage in the current year is 30.4 million hectares, 450,000 hectares less than the last year, due to a drop in area in Madhya Pradesh. Wheat stocks in 201718 as on January 1 have been estimated at 19.56 mt, almost 42 per cent more than the buffer stock requirement.

The rice stock as on January 1 was 16.20 mt, 113 per cent more than the buffer stock requirement.

The statement following the state secretaries' meeting noted that the government had decided to procure 5.5 mt of rabi rice from farmers against a target of 5 mt last year.

In 2017-18, the kharif rice procurement target was 37.5 mt, of which around 28.30 million tonnes had been purchased till January 1. Around 27.38 mt rice were purchased during the same period last year.

Rice production in 2017-18 has been estimated at 95 mt, marginally less than last year.

"States have been requested us to increase the number of procurement centres to make proper logistics arrangements of and give wide publicity to MSP and FAQ, and ensure quick payments to farmers for their produce," added the statement.

In 2017-18, the kharif rice procurement target was 37.5 mt, of which around 28.30 million tonnes had been purchased till January 1. Around 27.38 mt rice were purchased during the same period last year