Wheat procurement sub-agents get govt dollops

The government has hiked the commission to societies and sub-agents in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar to 2.5 per cent to boost wheat procurement in the 2008-09 marketing season.

"In order to encourage wheat procurement in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, commission to societies and sub-agents has been enhanced to 2.5 per cent on the lines of the Arthiya Commission in Punjab and Haryana for Rabi marketing season 2008-09," Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Akhilesh Prasad Singh said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

Registered societies and sub-agents procure wheat and rice on behalf of the Food Corporation of India, the nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains.

He said procurement of 111.3 lakh tonnes in 2007-08 season was low due to low market arrivals, high private participation and possibility that a large number of farmers held back stocks in expectation of fetching higher prices in later part of the year.

Listing the steps taken by the Centre to improve wheat procurement in 2008-09 season, Singh said "The minimum support price for wheat has been fixed at Rs 1,000 per quintal, an increase of Rs 250 a quintal from last year, in order to encourage farmers to produce more wheat."

Besides, he said the Department of Consumer Affairs has extended the time-frame of a notification under the Essential Commodity (EC) Act up to August 31, 2008, which enables state government to impose stock limit on wheat.

Singh said the Centre issued a notification last month saying that any company or individual, which purchases more than 10,000 tonnes of wheat during 2008-09 will have to furnish a return to food secretary of the state from where the maximum quantity had been purchased. The return for purchase of wheat beyond 25,000 tonnes, too, is required to be furnished to the central government.

Wheat stock as on April 1, 2008 was estimated to be more than the buffer norms at 40 lakh tonnes, he added.

LF protest against prices
The Left Front will organise protests against price rise of essential commodities in New Delhi on March 18.

"All Left Front partners will participate in the protest in Delhi against the price rise and restoration of quota for wheat and rice through PDS in the state," Front chairman Biman Bose said today.

Apart from West Bengal, left constituents from Kerala and other places would also participate in the demonstration in Delhi, said Bose, who is also the state secretary of the CPI-M.

Wheat dara price up on offtake
Wheat dara prices improved by Rs 5 a quintal in the wholesale grains market here today due to increased buying by rolling flour mills amid restricted supply. However, grain prices showed a flat trend on little bouts of buying and selling.

Marketmen said reduced supply against increased offtake by rolling flour mills, largely pushed up wheat dara price. Wheat dara moved higher from Rs 1,140-1,145 to close at Rs 1,145-1,150 a quintal on better offtake, while wheat mp deshi remained quiet on some support at Rs 1,350-1,600 a quintal.

Rolling flour mills and atta chakki price too posted higher from Rs 1,130-1,140 and Rs 1,135-1,140 to settle at Rs 1,135-1,142 and Rs 1,140-1,145 a 90 kg bags, respectively.