The government's rice procurement has reached 55.8 million tonnes so far in the ongoing 2022-23 marketing season, benefitting 1.22 crore farmers with MSP of Rs 1.7 lakh crore, the food ministry said on Tuesday. Wheat procurement has reached 26.2 million tonnes so far in the 2023-24 rabi marketing year (April-March), more than the last year's total procurement of 18.8 million tonnes. "With the current procurement of wheat and rice, adequate food grains stock in government granaries is maintained," the ministry said in a statement. The combined stock position of wheat and rice has reached 57 million tonnes, which puts the country in a comfortable position to meet its requirements of food grains, it noted. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) along with state agencies undertakes procurement of paddy and wheat under price support scheme. Paddy is procured and converted into rice through milling. According to the ministry, a total of 83 million tonnes of paddy (55.8 million tonnes in te
Farmers start harvesting wheat from March, selling most of their crop to state agencies and private traders by June
The purchases though are much higher than last year's multi-year low procurement of around 19 million tonnes
The ban was first introduced in May last year because of a decline in wheat production in the country
Wheat procurement in Punjab in the current rabi marketing season is expected to be better at 120 lakh metric tonne than last year'sat 120 lakh metric tonne, despite vagaries of weather that caused damage to the crop. Given the ongoing crop arrivals in grain markets of the state, Punjab is expected to purchase 120 lakh metric tonne of wheat for the central pool, said an official of the Punjab Food and Civil Supplies department. This purchase will be higher than last year's procurement of 96.47 lakh MT. The crop was adversely affected last season because of sudden rise in mercury during March which is the grain filling stage. Untimely rains accompanied by hail storms and high-velocity winds caused extensive damage to wheat and other crops at many places in Punjab, including in Fazilka, Muktsar, Moga and Patiala districts in March and April this year. The rough weather had an impact on around 14 lakh hectare out of total sown area of 34.90 lakh hectare and it was anticipated that the
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 ...
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
Untimely rains, hailstorm and strong winds have impacted wheat crop across more than 5.23 lakh hectare in three states, triggering fears of huge yield loss for farmers and harvesting challenges. India is one of the major producers of wheat, a key staple for a significant population, and the crop damage scenario also comes against the backdrop of persisting high inflation and food security woes globally amid geopolitical uncertainties. Around 5.23 lakh hectare of wheat crop is estimated to have been damaged in three states -- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh -- due to the inclement weather, according to officials. The assessment of wheat crop damage in Punjab and Haryana is underway, they said. This year, the wheat sown area is around 34 million hectare. The government is estimating a record 112.2 million tonne wheat output in the ongoing 2022-23 crop year (July-June), the officials said. Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja told PTI the government on Monday will rev
In 2021-22, the Centre first estimated wheat production at 111.32 million tonnes, which was scaled down to 107.74 million tonnes owing to bad weather
Wheat production is likely to remain around 26.7 million tonnes as against the envisaged wheat production target of 28.4 million tonnes
The sale has brought significant effect in cooling down the price of wheat and atta all over the country
Food Corporation of India (FCI) has sold 1.805 million metric tonnes of wheat in the open market through three e-auctions till date
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The states that could see a possible heatwave are in the Northwest region mostly, which is India's main food bowl plain and comprises Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
Several parts of the country are witnessing unusually warm weather for this time of the year, including in the biggest wheat-growing areas
India's foodgrain production is estimated at an all-time high of 323.55 million tonnes in the current crop year ending June, driven by the projection of a record output of rice, wheat and pulses. Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar attributed the record foodgrain output to hard work by farmers and agri scientists, besides the government policies. In its second advance estimates of production of foodgrains released on Tuesday, the Union agriculture ministry said that wheat production is estimated at record 112.18 million tonnes in the 2022-23 crop year (July-June), up 4.44 million tonnes from the previous year. The previous high in production of wheat, a major rabi crop, was achieved in the 2020-21 crop year at 109.59 million tonnes. The output had fallen to 107.74 million tonnes in the previous year due to heat waves in some producing states. Rice production is estimated at 130.83 million tonnes in 2022-23 crop year, up 1.36 million tonnes from the previous year, an official
Over 1,150 bidders participated in the first week of e-auction of wheat and a quantity of 9.2 lakh metric tonnes was sold across the country by Food Corporation of India (FCI)
The government on Friday said wheat prices have fallen more than 10 per cent in the past one week following its decision to sell the grain in open market to check rising prices. State-run Food Corporation of India has so far sold 9.2 lakh tonnes of wheat to bulk users at an average rate of Rs 2,474 per quintal on the first two-days of e-auction held this week. Recently, the Centre decided to offload 30 lakh tonnes of wheat from the buffer stock in the open market under the open market sale scheme (OMSS). Out of which 25 lakh tonnes will be sold to bulk consumers, flour millers, 3 lakh tonnes to institutions like Nafed and remaining 2 lakh tonnes to state governments. "The e-auction has already left an impact of a fall in market prices of wheat by more than 10 per cent in the past one week," the Food Ministry said in a statement. The "prices are set to fall further" after wheat sold in the e-auction is lifted and wheat flour (atta) is made available in the market, it said. As per
These institutions agreed to supply Atta at Rs. 29.50 per kg, which is to be named as "Bharat Atta" or "any other suitable name" with bold mention of the MRP of Rs. 29.50 per Kg
In a video shared on social media, some people riding a motorcycle are seen chasing a truck carrying sacks of flour, and people can be seen chasing the vehicle to buy the lot