Total wheat purchase in current marketing season surpasses govt’s target

The total wheat purchase in this marketing season has already surpassed the government's target of 31.8 million tonne. As on June 18, 2012, wheat procurement stood at 36.73 million tonne a rise of 34% in this year so far compared to last year.  This rise of 34% can be attributed to a record production of wheat which has helped procurement of the essential staple.

Besides, the wheat arrivals stood at 38.97 million tonne as on June 18, 2012, according to the latest government data. In the same period of the 2011-12 wheat marketing season (April-March), the government had purchased 27.32 million tonne of wheat.

In the current season, wheat purchase in Punjab stood at 12.82 million tonne while in Haryana it was at 8.66 million tonne of wheat. Also, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have procured nearly 8.49 million tonne and 4.17 million tonne of wheat, respectively.

Wheat production of India, the world's second-largest producer, is estimated at a record 90.23 million tonne in the 2011-12 crop year (July-June). The minimum support price of wheat stands at Rs 1,285 per quintal.