India’s wheat procurement figure has risen nearly two per cent to 26.7mn tonnes (MT) in the marketing year 2015-16
Until 26 May 2015, 26,706,313 tonnes of wheat have been procured by the government agencies in various wheat growing states across India. During the last season, it was 26,286,152 tonnes on the same day, revealed officials in the Indian food ministry.
Punjab continues to be the largest contributor, with 9.86 MT of wheat procured this year so far. The central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has climbed to second position in wheat procurement, with 7.21 MT, replacing Haryana, which slipped to third position with 6.75 MT.
Experts believe that India’s wheat production will get affected due to hailstorms and rains, and yet, the government has increased its procurement figure by two per cent. In order to provide relief to farmers affected by unseasonal rains and hailstorms, the Indian government has relaxed norms for wheat procurement.
In April 2015, the central government had decided to bear a value cut, if any, imposed on shrivelled, broken and luster-lost grains, so that farmers get full Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce. According to sources, most of the wheat procured under relaxed specifications, is either shrivelled or lack lustre.
