Wheat procurement in Punjab down 39%

Wheat procurement in Punjab has reached 56.22 lakh metric tonnes (MT) so far in the ongoing crop year, but this is still 39% lower than the volume lifted in the corresponding period of previous year.

Government procurement agencies and private millers have procured 56.22 lakh MT of wheat so far, whereas 91.60 lakh MT of crop was procured last year.

Wheat harvesting got delayed in Punjab because of extended cold conditions this rabi marketing season.  

According to FCI officials, wheat arrivals in a few areas lashed by rain and hailstorms almost ten days back had moisture content of close to 12%, which was within the prescribed limit.

"Last year, the moisture content was hovering around 8 to 9%, but in this season, the moisture content was a bit higher due to rains... But it was still meeting anorms," he said.

Out of total procurement, state owned agencies bought 56.14 lakh MT of wheat, constituting 99.09% of total buying. The participation of private traders in crop buying was abysmally low at just 7,855 MT.  

FCI procured 7.53 lakh MT of wheat which was 13.4% of the total procurement of wheat in the state.

A spokesman said Patiala district, with 7.65 lakh MT of procurement, was leading procurement operations, whereas Sangrur district, where 7.57 lakh MT of wheat was lifted, was at second place.