Punjab records all-time high wheat procurement of 107.43 LT

Aided by higher wheat output, Punjab has set a new record in wheat procurement for the central pool, with crop purchases touching 107.43 lakh metric tonnes (MT) in the ongoing rabi marketing season.

Punjab had previously recorded an all-time high in wheat procurement for the central pool at 107.36 lakh MT in 2009-10.

The total crop procurement in Punjab has reached 107.70 lakh MT, out of which the contribution to the central pool is 107.43 lakh MT. Procurement by private traders and for the Punjab state pool has reached 25,282 MT and 1,797 MT, respectively, a FCI official said here today.

Punjab has kept a target for 110 lakh MT of wheat procurement this season, amid a foodgrain storage crisis. "As about 26,000 MT of wheat is still arriving in the grain markets, the total procurement may reach 109 lakh MT," an official said. 

The record wheat procurement has been possible due to bumper wheat output prospects, with the state anticipating the highest-ever wheat production of 160 lakh MT this season on account of favourable weather conditions.  

Notably, the highest-ever wheat output achieved by the state in the last 10 years was in 2008-09, at 157.33 lakh MT, followed by 157.16 lakh MT in 2007-08.

Because of extended cold conditions, wheat growers this year witnessed an increase in wheat yield by up to 2 quintals per hectare, which has boosted overall ouput, an official of the Punjab Agriculture Department said.

Meanwhile, wheat procurement for the central pool in the neighbouring state of Haryana has touched the 67.09 lakh tonne-mark, short of the record of 69.24 lakh MT in 2009-10.

Total wheat procurement in the state has reached 67.13 lakh MT, out of which 67.09 lakh MT is toward the central pool and rest was bought by private traders, an official of the Haryana Food and Supply department said.