AgriNation News Network

New Delhi | 15 Feb 2018

Though the wheat production is likely to dip this crop year 2017-18 but the government has fixed its procurement target higher at 32 million tonne (MT) for 2018-19 marketing year starting April as against 30.82 MT during 2017-18.

“In consultation with the states, it has been decided to keep an estimate of 32 MT of wheat procurement during 2018-19 Rabi Marketing Season (RMS),” food ministry said.

The decision was made in the conference of state food secretaries held in New Delhi on Thursday under the Chairpersonship of Union Food Secretary Ravi Kant.

Centre has requested states to increase number of procurement centres to make proper arrangement of logistics and give wide publicity to MSP and ensure quick payments to farmers for their produce.

Out of the total wheat procurement target for 2018-19 marketing year, Punjab aims to procure maximum at 11.9 MT, followed by Haryana 7.4 MT, Madhya Pradesh 6.7 MT, Uttar Pradesh 4 MT, Rajasthan 1.6 MT, Bihar 2 MT, Uttarakhand 1 MT and Gujarat 0.5 MT.

In case of rice, the government has set a target to buy 5.5 MT grown in rabi season of 2017-18 crop year, which is over and above the estimate of 37.5 MT set for buying kharif rice this year.