At 195 LMT, wheat procurement surpasses last year’s 188 LMT

According to the statement, minimum support price (MSP) outflow of about Rs 41,148 crore has already been made to about 14.96 lakh farmers during the ongoing wheat procurement operations.

“Notably, major contribution in the procurement comes from three wheat procuring states of Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh with procurement of 89.79 LMT, 54.26 LMT and 49.47 LMT, respectively,” the statement said.

“One of the major factors, contributing to the progressive procurement this year, is the grant of relaxation by GOI in quality specifications of wheat being procured, in view of untimely rains. This will reduce the hardship of farmers and check any distress sale,” it said.

The statement further said, “The Central Government has also allowed all the states to open procurement centres at village/ panchayat level and to carry out the procurement through co-operative societies/ gram panchayats/ Arhatias etc. also in addition to already existing designated procurement centres, for better outreach.”

“In addition, rice procurement is also progressing smoothly. A quantity of 354 LMT of rice has been procured till April 26, 2023 during the kharif crop of KMS 2022-23 with another 140 LMT yet to be procured. Further, 106 LMT rice has been estimated to be procured during the KMS 2022-23,” it said.

“The combined stock position of wheat and rice in the Central pool has surpassed 510 LMT, which puts the country in a comfortable position to meet its requirements of food grains. With the ongoing procurement of wheat and rice, the food grains stock levels are on rise in government granaries,” it added.