Wheat procurement deadline extended after export ban; quality norms eased

Till May 14, some 18 million tonnes of wheat have been bought for Central pool; that's 51% lower than the procurement during the same period last year

Days after the government banned exports, it has extended the deadline for procurement of wheat from farmers till May 31, 2022 in those states where it is expiring early.

It has also lowered the quality specifications to enable even inferior quality grains to be purchased for the Central pool.

According to an official order, till May 14, around 18 million tonnes of wheat have been purchased for the Central pool which is almost 51 per cent less than the same period last year as production dropped due to rise in terminal heat in the main growing months, while farmers also