The Centre has requested wheat-producing states and union territories (UTs) to continue procuring wheat until May 31, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on May 15.
The Ministry stated that the extension of the wheat procurement season “is expected to assist farmers.” According to the ministry, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been asked to resume wheat procurement under the Central poll.
The decision was made after the States and UTs requested that the procurement season be extended, according to the Ministry.
Wheat purchase under the Central pool went well
The Ministry stated that wheat purchase under the Central pool went well in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Bihar, and Rajasthan during the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2022-2023. From April to March, the rabi marketing season takes place.
“Wheat procurement under the Central pool has been lower during the current RMS 2022-23 compared to the previous RMS 2021-22, owing to higher market pricing than MSP, where farmers are selling wheat to private traders.” “On May 13, the Central Government resolved to prohibit wheat exports in order to bring down excessive wheat prices, except in the case of irrevocable letters of credit and requests from neighboring/food-deficit nations,” according to the statement.
It claimed that 180 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) have been procured as of May 14, compared to 367 LMT during RMS 2021-2022, offering 16.83 lakh farmers an MSP worth Rs 36,208 crore