The Punjab authorities has urged the Centre to chill out the standard norms for wheat procurement as the next than prescribed stage of shrivelled grains within the state’s present crop has led to a fall in purchases.
A meals ministry group just lately visited mandis in Punjab to evaluate the problem of shrivelled wheat grain brought on by the warmth wave in March, thought-about because the ripening time for the crop. Shrivelled wheat ends in losses in yield and dietary worth.
According to a mandi official right here, excessive warmth in March and early April has elevated shrivelled grain share to 10-20% in Punjab, as towards 6% prescribed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Sources advised FE that FCI has favoured related relaxations for procurement in Haryana. The central authorities is predicted to take a name shortly.
In the absence official communication concerning adjustments in specs, wheat is being bought from farmers in Punjab below the relaxed pointers, and the grain wouldn’t be moved to FCI godowns in different states.
Officials stated unusually excessive temperature during the last two weeks has precipitated grain to shrivel in Punjab, the place companies have set a procurement goal of 13.2 million tonne (MT) within the ongoing rabi advertising and marketing session (April-June) for 2022-23, which is unlikely to be achieved due to the yield losses.
Government companies have procured greater than 11.89 MT of wheat from farmers, principally in key rising states of Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, until Thursday — a decline of greater than 30% in comparison with the identical interval within the earlier 12 months. Officials stated procurement in Haryana and Punjab is predicted to be accomplished within the subsequent couple of weeks.
Five companies, together with FCI, Markfed and Pungrain, have been entrusted with the wheat procurement on the minimal assist worth (MSP) from farmers in Punjab, the place greater than 6.17 MT has been bought to this point. In Haryana, 3.33 MT has been procured by companies. whereas in Madhya Pradesh, greater than 2.32 MT has been bought.
In different wheat-growing states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Gujarat, procurement is but to select up tempo.
Wheat procurement is being keenly watched this time as a surge in exports. principally from Madhya Pradesh. has pushed up mandi costs above the MSP of Rs 2,015 per quintal.
Food ministry officers have stated the goal of 44 MT for procurement from farmers throughout all wheat-growing states will likely be lowered by greater than 10 MT as a result of a attainable surge in exports and excessive mandi costs. India is aiming at exporting 10 MT of wheat in 2022-23.
The official procurement season is from April-June, however a bulk of the wheat crop arrives within the mandis in the course of the first six weeks.
Food ministry officers have indicated {that a} drop in wheat procurement quantity is unlikely to influence the grain allocation to the general public distribution system below the National Food Security Act as FCI has greater than 19 MT of wheat as of April 1, towards the buffer norm of seven MT. The authorities distributes 5 kg of rice or wheat to beneficiaries at Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg, respectively.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”