The ministry of meals has despatched a second staff to Punjab to evaluate the extent of the issue of shrivelled wheat grain at present being procured by authorities companies from farmers.
The state authorities on Thursday introduced gradual closure of mandis due to a dip in wheat arrival.
Sources instructed FE that meals ministry officers are visiting numerous mandis within the state to take wheat samples for ascertaining the extent of shrivelled wheat grain attributable to the heatwave within the later a part of the March, thought-about because the ripening time for the crop.
The ministry had despatched a staff to the state final month to check the extent of shrivelled grain. The staff, had in its report, acknowledged that excessive warmth in March and early April has elevated shrivelled grain proportion to 10-20% within the state, as towards 6% prescribed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Last month, the Punjab authorities urged the Centre to calm down the standard norms for wheat procurement as a better than prescribed degree of shrivelled grains within the state’s present crop has led to a fall in purchases.
Sources stated that FCI has favoured related relaxations for procurement in Haryana.
In the absence of official communication concerning modifications in specs, wheat is being bought from farmers in Punjab beneath the relaxed tips, and the grain wouldn’t be moved to FCI godowns in different states.
Government companies have procured greater than 17.31 million tonne (MT) of wheat from farmers, principally in key rising states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, until Thursday — a decline of greater than 45% in comparison with the identical interval within the earlier 12 months.
According to the ministry, Minimum Support Price (MSP) worth of Rs 34,499 crore has been transferred to greater than 18.5 lakh farmers for wheat procurement this session.
Five companies, together with FCI, Markfed and Pungrain, have been entrusted with the wheat procurement at MSP from farmers in Punjab, the place greater than 9.28 MT has been bought thus far towards 12.33 MT bought a 12 months in the past. Officials stated procurement in Haryana and Punjab is predicted to be accomplished within the subsequent one week.
In Haryana, 4.03 MT has been procured by companies, whereas in Madhya Pradesh, greater than 3.81 MT has been bought.
In different wheat-growing states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Gujarat, the amount of grain procurement has been marginal.
Wheat procurement is being keenly watched this time as a surge in exports has pushed up mandi costs above the MSP of Rs 2,015 per quintal.
Food secretary Sudhanshu Pandey earlier this week had stated the decrease output, coupled with personal buy from farmers by exporters, and merchants holding on to the shares would result in a 55% year-on-year decline in wheat procurement within the 2022-23 advertising 12 months to 19.5 MT. This means the purchases of the cereal by the federal government at MSP would hit a 13-year low this 12 months.
The authorities has revised the estimate of wheat manufacturing within the 2021-22 crop 12 months (July-June) to 105 MT, down from its February projection of 111.32 MT, primarily based on reviews that the early onset of summer season in March has adversely impacted crop yield.
India is aiming at exporting 10 MT of wheat in 2022-23. However, with the home costs of wheat ruling above MSP, the federal government is more likely to take measures to limit exports quickly.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”