Govt’s wheat procurement stands at 195 lakh tonnes so far in 2023-24 rabi marketing season

28 Apr 2023 Evaluate

The government’s wheat procurement has stood at 195 lakh tonnes so far (till April 26, 2023) in the 2023-24 Rabi marketing season (RMS), which surpassed the total purchase made of 188 lakh tonnes during RMS 2022-23. Rabi marketing season runs from April-March, but bulk of purchases happen between April and June. 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.

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 49.47 lakh tonnes, respectively. One of the major factors, contributing the progressive procurement this year, is the grant of relaxation by GOI in quality specifications of wheat being procured, in view of untimely rains leading to luster loss. This will reduce the hardship of farmers and check any distress sale.

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 lakh tonnes of rice has been procured till April 26, 2023 during kharif crop of 2022-23 kharif marketing season, with another 140 lakh tonnes yet to be procured. Further, a quantity of 106 lakh tonnes rice has been estimated to be procured during the rabi crop of KMS 2022-23. Kharif marketing season runs from October to September.

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