The total lifting in Punjab has been highest in last six years on higher MSP and favourable weather condition, while Haryana has broken a record of last five years, as per FCI data.
It was in year 2001-02, when both Punjab and Haryana observed record procurement of 11.59 million tonne and 6.46 million tonne respectively.
Out of total wheat procurement so far, Punjab and Haryana have contributed 9.86 million tonne and 5.21 million tonne towards central pool respectively, which is way ahead of last year's procurement and targeted figure, officials said.
Before the commencement of wheat lifting season 2008-09, the government had fixed the target of procuring 8.5 million tonne of wheat from Punjab and 4.0 miilion tonne from Haryana.
Significantly, wheat experts attributed the jump in wheat arrival in grain markets in these agrarian states to bumper production due to prolonged cold conditions and higher Minimum Support Price (MSP).
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The procurement by private traders during this year has been abysmally low at 3 per cent in Punjab and 1 per cent in Haryana which ensured maximum lifting by government agencies, said an expert.
"The stringent conditions framed by government on wheat lifting by private players and high cost of procurement prevented private companies to enter these states," a Khanna based wheat trader said.
Besides, increased arrival of wheat because of higher MSP announced by government also boosted wheat lifting. "This year farmers did not hoard wheat at all and brought their produce to mandis which improved wheat arrivals a lot," he said.
FCI, this year, had even expressed concern over the less arrival of wheat in Punjab and Haryana.