With a 42% annual drop in wheat procurement by the federal government companies to 16.19 million tonne (MT) as of May 1, shares of the grain with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) have dropped to a five-year low of 31 MT on May 1.
According to sources, the present wheat shares will barely meet the necessities underneath the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), which has been prolonged until September 30, 2022.
While the federal government requires about 25-26 MT of wheat yearly for the implementation of NFSA, one other 10 MT of the grain is provided to states underneath PMGKAY.
Sources stated that due to the low shares, the federal government is contemplating a proposal to substitute wheat supplied underneath PMGKAY with rice, whose shares are ample. As of May 1, FCI has 33.15 MT of rice whereas one other 20 MT is receivable from the millers. This is in opposition to a buffer norm of 13.58 MT initially of April.
The authorities had dedicated to produce 12.98 MT of rice underneath PMGKAY, however the provides could also be elevated due to the low wheat shares.
While wheat procurement is anticipated to be over in every week in the important thing rising states — Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh –- the federal government companies are struggling to attain wheat procurement of 20 MT this season as arrivals in mandis have dropped considerably.
Due to non-public purchases by merchants in anticipation of provide constraints in coming months and a surge in export alternatives, procurement in Punjab — the largest contributor to the central pool — has declined to eight.86 MT from 10.89 MT final 12 months.
In different key producing states equivalent to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, wheat procurement has been somewhat sluggish to date.
The mandi costs throughout states are ruling no less than Rs 200 to Rs 250 a quintal above the minimal assist value (MSP) of Rs 2,015 a quintal introduced by the federal government for this season.
According to an official assertion by the federal government on Monday, 16.19 MT of wheat has been procured to date, by paying Rs 32,633 crore to the farmers.
This time, wheat procurement is being keenly watched as a surge in exports contemplating the disruption in international provides over the Ukraine-Russia battle has pushed up demand for wheat from India. While India is aiming at exporting greater than 10 MT of wheat in 2022-23, given the decrease stage of procurement and shares held with FCI, the federal government is more likely to regulate exports to keep away from home provide constraints.
Meanwhile, Railways has requested its divisional workplaces to supply rakes for meals grains motion to FCI on a precedence foundation whereas capping rakes supplied for transportation of wheat to ports for exports.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”
