Centre extends wheat procurement season till 31 May

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A procurement agent checking moisture content of the wheat grains. Tribune photo: Vishal Kumar

The Union government ordered wheat-producing states and Union Territories (UTs) to continue purchasing until May 31. “Modi Sarkar has extended the wheat procurement season until May 31, 2022, to ensure that no wheat farmers are inconvenienced.

We are dedicated to ensuring farm success “, Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal tweeted. The decision came after states and UTs asked to keep the procurement process going. According to a government statement, the decision will assist farmers. FCI has also been directed by the Ministry of Food, Public Distribution, and Consumer Affairs to continue with wheat procurement through the central pool. Farmers are likely to gain from the longer period.

The decision was made in response to pleas from state governments and local governments to continue the procurement process. Meanwhile, in the Rabi Marketing Season 2022-23, wheat procurement under the central pool is proceeding well in the states/UTs of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Gujarat, Bihar, and Rajasthan.

Wheat procurement under the central pool was lower in the following RMS 2022-23 compared to the previous RMS 2021-22, owing to higher market prices than MSP, where farmers sold wheat to private traders. The central government resolved on May 13th to limit wheat exports in order to contain rising wheat prices, save in the case of irrevocable letters of credit and requests from neighboring/food-short nations. Up to 14.05.2022, a total of 180 LMT of wheat was procured (equivalent to 367 LMT for RMS 2021-22), benefiting around 16.83 lakh farmers with an MSP value of Rs.36,208 crore.

Farmers can sell their wheat to the state/FCI at MSP as per the requirements, under the central pool, in the interest of farmers and at the request of state governments. ”Wheat procurement in the states will continue until 31.5.22 or until an earlier approved date, whichever comes first “, according to the letter to the governments of Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

The Centre recently amended its wheat export policy, placing it in the “prohibited” category. According to the order issued by the Ministry of Commerce late Friday night, the government has prohibited wheat exports with “immediate impact.

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