The Hindu Business Line : Govt to hike wheat procurement

WITH the Government having to resort to wheat imports to keep prices under control this year, it has increased its procurement plans for the crop in the ensuing season by about 14 lakh tonnes.

The Government plans to procure 162 lakh tonnes of wheat, as per the initial estimates, during the Rabi marketing season 2006-07 compared with 147.85 lakh tonnes last year. .

The procurement is expected to start from last week of March in some States and from early April elsewhere. This preliminary estimate emerged at a meeting of Food Secretaries of the main wheat procuring States held here on Monday.

The meeting also discussed matters relating to the procurement of coarse grains, setting up of control rooms and purchase centres in various States and the purchase of gunny bags, said an official release. Mr R. N. Das, Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, underlined the need for decentralised procurement by States and adequate storages facilities in the procurement regions before operations begin.

The Food Corporation of India and State Government agencies have made necessary arrangements for the smooth procurement operation of the minimum support price system during the marketing season.

Punjab is expected to contribute the maximum to the Central pool as usual with 85 lakh tonnes of wheat, followed by Haryana with 42 lakh tonnes and Uttar Pradesh with 25 lakh tonnes. Other States contributing to wheat procurement for the Central pool are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttaranchal.

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