Page 2 - Wheat Procurement

Govt's wheat procurement up 42% at 25.2 mn tonness so far in 2023-24

The government's wheat procurement has reached 25.2 million tonnes so far in the ongoing 2023-24 marketing year, up 42 per cent from the year-ago period, according to the Food Ministry. The procurement so far has already breached the 18.8 million tonnes mark achieved in the full 2022-23 marketing year (April-March). With the ongoing procurement of wheat and rice, the foodgrains stock levels are on the rise in the government granaries ensuring food security to the entire nation, the ministry said. Wheat is the main rabi crop and the government has kept a procurement target of 34.15 million tonnes for the current marketing year. Although the marketing year runs from April to March, the bulk of the procurement is done between April to June. "Nearly, 25.2 million tonne procurement of wheat has been done till 9th May, 2023. This figure is 7.5 million tonnes higher than the corresponding date during the 2022-23 rabi marketing year," the ministry said in a statement. A major contribution

Wheat procurement up 42%, Madhya Pradesh extends sale window

Earlier, the farmers were allowed to sell wheat in some divisions till May 12 and for the others it was till May 15

Wheat procurement reaches 19.5 mn tonnes in FY24, surpasses FY23 purchase

The government on Thursday said that wheat procurement has reached 195 lakh tonnes so far in this marketing year that started in April, surpassing the total purchase made during the previous year. "The procurement of wheat during RMS (rabi marketing season) 2023-24 has already surpassed the total procurement of RMS 2022-23," an official statement said. Rabi marketing season runs from April-March, but bulk of purchases happen between April and June. "In RMS 2022-23, the procurement was 188 lakh tonnes. However, till April 26th, 2023, wheat procurement during RMS 2023-24 is 195 lakh tonnes. "This has largely benefitted the farmers. MSP (minimum support price) outflow of about Rs 41,148 crore has already been made to about 14.96 lakh farmers during the ongoing wheat procurement operations," the statement said. Major contribution in the procurement comes from three wheat producing states of Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh with procurement of 89.79 lakh tonnes, 54.26 lakh tonnes and

Wheat acquisition payout estimated at Rs 12,750 crore in Uttar Pradesh

Nonetheless, the global wheat supply chains are fairly stabilised this year, which augurs well for the domestic procurement of the rabi crop in different states, including UP

Wheat procurement picks up but may face headwinds in some states

"Wheat procurement is progressing smoothly," a senior food ministry official told PTI

5.4 mn metric tonnes wheat procured in Haryana: Dy CM Dushyant Chautala

He said that in the next two days, Rs 9,000 crore will be deposited in the accounts of the farmers after the procurement

Government's wheat procurement up 12% at 11.1 mn tonne so far in FY24

The government's wheat procurement rose 12 per cent to 111 lakh tonne so far in the ongoing 2023-24 marketing year (April-March), from 99 lakh tonne in the year-ago period, according to the food ministry data. "Wheat procurement is progressing smoothly," said a senior food ministry official. About 11,89,237 farmers have been benefitted so far from the procurement operation with an expected MSP outflow of Rs 23,663.63 crore, the official added. As the wheat crop was impacted in some key growing states due to the recent untimely rains, the Centre has relaxed quality norms for procurement of wheat in five states -- Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the national nodal agency that undertakes procurement of wheat at the minimum support price along with state agencies. The procurement is done not only to protect the interest of farmers but also to maintain a buffer stock to be used for various welfare schemes. The government

Wheat procurement down by 18% at 41 lakh tonne due to harvest delays

The government has procured 41 lakh tonne wheat at the minimum support price directly from farmers so far in the ongoing 2023-24 marketing year (April-March), down 18 per cent from the year-ago period, a top FCI official said on Monday. Speaking to PTI, Food Corporation of India (FCI) Chairman and Managing Director Ashok K Meena said the procurement has been less due to delay in harvesting and lower arrivals in mandis especially in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan because of the recent unseasonal rains. The untimely rains had led to damage to the crop in some parts of the wheat-growing states, thus deteriorating the quality of the grain in few places. However, the government has eased procurement norms for wheat in five states -- Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan -- in the interest of farmers, he said. "Wheat procurement has reached 41 lakh tonne till April 16 of the current marketing year, slightly lower than 50 lakh tonne in the year-ago ...

Wheat export ban to continue to ensure adequate supplies in India: Goyal

The ban on exports of wheat will continue as India has to ensure adequate supplies of the foodgrain for its domestic market and keep the inflation at check, Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. He said that the procurement of wheat has started and the numbers for the first week of buying are "very" satisfactory. "I could believe that we will have a good harvest despite the unseasonal rains...We do believe that we will have to ensure adequate supplies for the Indian market and once the procurement period is over, we believe that it will be important that inflation is also contained in the country and therefore it is important that the wheat exports continue to remain banned," the commerce and industry and consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister told reporters here. He is here on a two-day visit to meet leaders and businesses in order to enhance economic ties between India and Italy. India, the world's second-largest wheat producer, banned wheat exports in Ma

Govt relaxes wheat procurement norms in Punjab, Haryana, C'garh, Rajasthan

The Centre has relaxed quality norms for wheat procurement in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Rajasthan to prevent distressed sale as well as protect the interest of farmers, a senior official said on Tuesday. The recent untimely rainfall, hailstorm and high velocity wind have damaged the standing wheat crop, which was ready for harvest, in some parts of these states. These state governments had demanded the relaxation in procurement norms. Currently, wheat procurement is underway in Madhya Pradesh, while it has been delayed in other states because of untimely rains. State-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) along with state agencies undertake the procurement of wheat. "After the field survey, we have relaxed the quality norms for procurement of wheat in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana and Rajasthan in order to reduce hardship of farmers and to avoid distressed sale of wheat," Subodh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary in the Union Food Ministry, told PTI. The government has relaxed t

Confident of achieving wheat procurement target, says food Secretary

Rice Fortification nationwide likely to be completed before March 2024

Confident of achieving wheat procurement target of 34.2 mt: Food secretary

With India likely to harvest a record wheat output, the Centre on Thursday said it is confident of achieving wheat procurement target of 34.2 million tonne and will soon take a call on relaxing quality norms for buying in Punjab and Haryana in view of crop damage due to untimely rains. Earlier in the day while announcing the bi-monthly monetary policy, Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das said the expectation of a record rabi harvest bodes well for easing of food price pressure. "There is already evidence of a correction in wheat prices in March on supply side interventions by the government. The impact of the recent unseasonal rains in some parts of the country, however, needs to be watched," the Governor said. Addressing a press conference, Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said the government is hopeful of a record wheat output of 112.2 million tonne in 2022-23 crop year ending June, despite inclement weather conditions in some parts of the country affecting grain quality. Th

SAD chief seeks Rs 50,000 per acre for crop loss due to inclement weather

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Tuesday sought immediate release of compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre to farmers whose wheat crop was destroyed by untimely rain and hailstorms. The complete destruction of the wheat crop in nearly half of the state is there for all to see. It has also been corroborated by agricultural experts, said Badal in a statement here. What was he (Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann) waiting for? Badal asked. Untimely rains, hailstorm and high-velocity winds have caused damage to wheat and other crops in many areas of Punjab. Badal said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had promised to give compensation immediately after crop damage on the 'Delhi Model' and should keep its promise instead of delaying the assessment procedure to deny relief to farmers as it had done last year also. Farmers have not received compensation for damage done to wheat and cotton crops last year which should also be given immediately, he added. Badal said the SAD wi

Approximately 11,000 MT of wheat procured in current Rabi season: FCI chief

Procurement of wheat for Rabi marketing season 2023-24 has been to the tune of 10,727 metric tonnes till March 27 as compared to nil procurement last year.

Export ban on wheat to continue; record output likely: FCI CMD

Wheat production will not be affected due to recent rains, confident of achieving the output target, he added

Madhya Pradesh reopens wheat procurement window to help rain-hit farmers

Prices were hovering just below state's support price in several markets

Centre's wheat procurement to be normal next season: FCI chairman

According to FCI data, the corporation has so far managed to sell roughly 1.8 mt of wheat, of the earmarked 3 mt, in the first three auctions that are about 60 per cent of the allocated quantity

Govt further cuts reserve price of FCI wheat to Rs 2,150 per quintal

States are allowed to purchase wheat from FCI for their own scheme at the proposed reserve prices without participating in e-auction

Wheat sowing up 0.37% to 34.1 mn hectare so far; crop condition good: Data

Area sown to wheat has increased marginally by 0.37 per cent to 341.85 lakh hectare (ha) so far in the ongoing rabi season, with higher areas reported in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Bihar, the government data showed. According to a senior agriculture ministry official, about 5-6 lakh ha more wheat area is expected to be reported from north India, especially Uttar Pradesh, where the sowing of wheat has got delayed due to sugarcane harvesting. "The wheat crop condition is good as of now. Tiller per plan is average at 6-10 due to better weather situations. One spell of rain in a day or two will further boost the plant growth," the official told PTI. Sowing of wheat, the main rabi (winter) crop, begins in October, while harvesting starts in March/April. As per the latest agriculture ministry's data, wheat has been sown in 341.85 lakh ha as of January 27 against 340.56 lakh ha in the year-ago period. The higher area is reported from Rajasthan (2.52 lakh ha), Maharashtra (1.28 lakh ha),

Govt procures paddy, wheat worth over Rs 2.5 trn in 2021-22: Food Ministry

Procurement of wheat and paddy in quantity and value terms has risen significantly in the last eight years, on account of a hike in the minimum support price (MSP) and purchases made from more states, a senior food ministry official said on Tuesday. The number of farmers covered under the MSP operations has also increased because of the higher quantity of wheat and paddy procurement by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency for the procurement and distribution of foodgrains. "The central procurement of wheat and paddy has increased substantially between the 2013-14 and 2021-22 marketing seasons. The procurement has become broad-based and we are purchasing grains from more states now. MSP has increased significantly," said Subodh Singh, additional secretary in the food ministry. The procurement is taking place in Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Tripura, he said, adding that the FCI has started buying paddy from Rajasthan. Production of wheat and paddy has also risen since