Haryana gets only 58.82 lakh tonnes of wheat

Contrary to expectations of a bumper wheat arrival of nearly 90 lakh tonnes, Haryana has seen wheat arrival of only 58.82 lakh tonnes this year, food and supplies officials said Monday.

"Over 58.82 lakh tonnes of wheat has arrived so far in Haryana mandis during the current procurement season. Out of it, over 58.73 lakh tonnes of wheat has been procured by government agencies and 9,232 tonnes has been purchased by private millers and traders," a spokesman of the food and supplies department said.

This is much lower than the arrival of 83.25 lakh tonnes of wheat in the season last year.

Wheat arrivals had surpassed all records last year with over 83.25 lakh tonnes wheat arriving by May 13 itself.

The previous record of wheat procurement of 69.28 lakh tonnes was in 2011.

"This year, the wheat arrival is almost 25 lakh tonnes less than last year," one official said.

Having achieved the highest-ever wheat production in the state since 1966 (when Haryana was founded Nov 1, 1966), farmers in Haryana became richer by Rs.10,697 crore last year. The amount was paid to them for the procured wheat. Almost the entire stock was procured by government agencies.