Wheat lifting season ends; purchases down in Punjab, Haryana

Wheat procurement from Punjab and Haryana for the 2010-11 marketing year, which closed on May 31, has been lower than last year as an unduly hot March reduced yields.

While procurement from Punjab fell by 5.3 per cent compared to last year, that from Haryana dropped 8.5 per cent.

Punjab, known as India's breadbasket, contributed 101.8 lakh Metric Tonne (MT) this season for the central pool against last year's procurement of 107.47 lakh MT, the Food Corporation of India data showed.

The winter crop (Rabi) buying by procurement agencies from Haryana stood at 63.35 lakh MT in comparison to last year's record 69.24 lakh MT, an official of the Haryana Food and Supply Department said.
    
Although procurement from Punjab and Haryana fell short of last year's level, both the states together were the second highest contributor to the central pool, a senior FCI official said.
    
The wheat procurement season in Punjab and Haryana starts from April 1 and closes on May 31.
   
"Because of the abrupt rise in mercury in March, the moisture content in the wheat crop went down considerably resulting into drying up of grains. As a result of it, the crop yield dipped by 2 quintals per hectare in both states," wheat expert pointed out.