Wheat procurement below target in Punjab, Haryana, UP

Wheat procurement is likely to be lower than projected, say Food Corporation of India sources. The reason is an unexpected shortfall in stock bought in the three major contributors — Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pardesh.

The three states made a combined contribution of 21.58 million tonnes to the central pool last year. This was more than four-fifths of the FCI’s total procurement of 25.38 mt.

This year, FCI expected to bring in more and the target was tentatively set at 26.2 mt. However, due to the lag in these three major states, total procurement is expected to reach only 25 mt. Total procurement till May 6, said FCI, was 20.62 mt. And, that in the two prime states of Punjab and Haryana are almost entirely over, say their regional offices.

Last year, Punjab contributed 10.725 mt, Haryana sent 6.92 mt and UP, 3.88 mt to the central pool. This year, the target was 11.5 mt for Punjab, 7 mt for Haryana and 4 mt for UP. According to FCI sources, Punjab is now estimated to procure 10.2-10.3 mt, Haryana another 6.3-6.4 mt and UP about 3.5 mt.

A silver lining comes from the exceptionally good procurement from Madhya Pardesh. The state procured 1.97 mt last season. This year, till May 6, it had procured 2.76 mt for the central pool. With one more month to go (procurement is on till June 30), this will go up. FCI sources said the state produced about 10 mt, but procurement had been hampered by the comparative absence of marketing infrastructure.

Recent of the state government to address this have helped raise the marketable surplus.

In Punjab and Haryana, high temperatures in the month of March are said to have affected the late-sown variety, with productivity less than expected.