During the ongoing wheat procurement activities, an MSP outflow of around Rs. 41148 crores has already been made to approximately 14.96 lakh farmers.
Notably, the three wheat procuring states of Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh each contributed 89.79 LMT, 54.26 LMT, and 49.47 LMT, respectively, to the procurement.
One of the primary causes contributing to this year's progressive procurement is the GOI's lowering of quality criteria for wheat being procured due to late rainfall causing lustre loss. This will alleviate farmer hardship and prevent any distress sales.
For better outreach, the Central Government has also authorized all states to open procurement centres at the village/panchayat level and to carry out procurement through Co-operative Societies/ Gramme Panchayats/ Arhatias, etc., in addition to previously existing designated procurement centres.
Furthermore, rice procurement is proceeding smoothly. During the kharif harvest of KMS 2022-23, 354 LMT of rice was procured until April 26, 2023, with another 140 LMT still to be procured. Furthermore, a total of 106 LMT rice is expected to be harvested during the KMS 2022-23 Rabi crop.
The total stock position of wheat and rice in the Central Pool has topped 510 LMT, putting the country in a good position to meet its food grain requirements. With the continued procurement of wheat and rice, food grain storage levels in government granaries are increasing.
