 "Wheat procurement to gain steam next week")
With the arrival of wheat likely to pick up pace in the first week of April, procurement agencies are gearing up to stock the new crop. While procurement in most states would commence from April 1, Madhya Pradesh has already procured 250,000 tonnes, said sources at Food Corporation of India.
The procurement target for 2012-13 is 44 million tonnes (mt), higher than last year's figure of 38.1 mt. As on March 1, 2013, the country has wheat stocks of about 27 mt. The cool weather, use of better variety seeds and timely sowing could help farmers fetch higher yields. Except for Saurashtra in Gujarat, which faced dry weather, all other states are likely to harvest a good crop this year. This would result in back-to-back bumper wheat harvests for the country.
Procurement in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is likely to get a boost, thanks to a bonus of Rs 150 per quintal.
With an average evacuation / liquidation of about three mt per month of wheat, by the end of June (the wheat procurement stretches till this time), the total wheat stock in the country would be approximately 60 mt.
The country has total storage capacity of about 64 mt, which includes about 20 mt in temporary storage space.
Procurement agencies would be hard put to use scientific storage methods in view of the huge quantities of foodgrain they would be called upon to handle by June-end.
The procurement target for 2012-13 is 44 million tonnes (mt), higher than last year's figure of 38.1 mt. As on March 1, 2013, the country has wheat stocks of about 27 mt. The cool weather, use of better variety seeds and timely sowing could help farmers fetch higher yields. Except for Saurashtra in Gujarat, which faced dry weather, all other states are likely to harvest a good crop this year. This would result in back-to-back bumper wheat harvests for the country.
Procurement in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is likely to get a boost, thanks to a bonus of Rs 150 per quintal.
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However, in Saurashtra, besides the dry weather which may have a downward pressure on arrivals in south Gujarat, the premium offered to farmers by exporters may not leave much room for procurement agencies in the state.
With an average evacuation / liquidation of about three mt per month of wheat, by the end of June (the wheat procurement stretches till this time), the total wheat stock in the country would be approximately 60 mt.
The country has total storage capacity of about 64 mt, which includes about 20 mt in temporary storage space.
Procurement agencies would be hard put to use scientific storage methods in view of the huge quantities of foodgrain they would be called upon to handle by June-end.