Wheat procurement by govt bodies in Hry to miss target

Unusual high temperatures this March has possibly damaged the wheat yield in Haryana, which is likely to impact food procurement by government agencies. Although government agencies had estimated wheat procurement from Haryana at seven million tonnes (mt) this year, the actual procurement would be 6.3-6.5 mt.

Haryana is the second largest contributor of the commodity to the central pool, after Punjab. Majority of wheat in Haryana is procured mainly by government agencies like Food and Civil Supplies, Hafed, FCI and Confed.

Government agencies last year had procured 6.92 mt of wheat on account of bumper crop in Haryana. This year again, these agencies were eyeing bumper crop keeping in mind the increased area of wheat acreage in the state, that rose from 2.46 million hectares last year to 2.47 million hectares this year.

Food and Civil Supplies Haryana Deputy Director A K Gaur maintained that with increase in area under wheat in Haryana this year, government agencies were eyeing procurement of seven million tonnes, but the procurement would remain between 6.3-6.5 mt. The increase in temperatures, especially in the month of March has impacted the yield of wheat in the state, especially in the case of late sown varieties. The officials said high temperatures which prevailed in the region had affected the yield in districts where wheat was sown late. According to the data provided by the food and civil supplies department, arrival of wheat has significantly dropped in districts of Fathehabad, Kaithal and Sirsa. The arrival of wheat in the state mandis till April 29 was 611,7588 tonnes as against 642,0982 tonnes in the corresponding period last year.