Wheat procurement has increased by 10 per cent to 208.11 lakh tonnes so far in the ongoing marketing season, helped by rise in production.
In the corresponding period of the last season, total wheat procurement stood at 189.27 lakh tonnes.
"During the ongoing Rabi marketing season, the government agencies have procured 208.11 lakh tonnes from wheat farmers as on May 2, 2016. Procurement on the day during the previous marketing season i.E. 2015-16 was 189.27 lakh tonnes. Thus, progressive procurement over previous year so far is 18.84 lakh tonnes more," an official statement said.
Although wheat marketing year runs from April-March, the bulk of procurement is done in the first three months.
Punjab has led the wheat procurement with 98.94 lakh tonnes in the 2016-17 rabi marketing year, followed by Haryana with 64.64 lakh tonnes. Madhya Pradesh has purchased 36.05 lakh tonnes of wheat.
"In comparison to last year's total procurement of 280.87 lakh tonnes, the progressive procurement so far is very significant," the Food Ministry said.
The government has fixed the wheat procurement target at 300 lakh tonnes for 2016-17 marketing year.
Wheat production is estimated to rise at 93.82 million tonnes in the 2015-16 crop year (July-June) as against 86.53 million tonnes in the previous year.
