Diversified group ITC and US-based Cargill are among the private local firms and multinationals which purchased over 19 lakh tonnes of wheat from farmers in 2007-08 marketing season. | |
| As per the declarations given by companies which purchased more than 50,000 tonnes of wheat, ITC bought the maximum among private players with 8.1 lakh tonnes of the grain. The Indian firm was followed by Cargill with 3.1 lakh tonnes, AWB India 2.2 lakh tonnes and Britannia 1.6 lakh tonnes. |
| |
| Agricore bought 1.5 lakh tonnes, and the Delhi Flour Mills 1.2 lakh tonnes, while Adani and Sri Nangali Agro Tech purchased over 66,000 tonnes each. |
| |
| All companies have to declare its stock to the government on a monthly basis if they purchase over 50,000 tonnes of wheat in the entire marketing season. This declaration norm was introduced this year as the government's procurement plan was badly affected last year due to aggressive buying by private companies. |
| |
| In 2007-08, the government procured only 111 lakh tonnes as against the targeted 151 lakh tonnes. One of the reasons for missing the target was higher purchase by private traders who offered better price to farmers than the FCI's procurement price of Rs 850 per quintal. |
| |
| Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had recently said that private players this year went to villages to buy wheat from farmers by paying Rs 10 more than the minimum support price as market has been deregulated. |
| |
| "Last year, we announced Rs 850 MSP for wheat which is the highest ever increase. Our friends from trade...visited villages and paid Rs 10 more than us (MSP). Farmers also thought it better to dispose produce at the village itself instead of taking it to mandis," he said. |
| |
|
| |
