Punjab, Haryana procurement crosses 141 lakh tonnes

Food grain states Punjab and Haryana have procured over 141 lakh tonnes of wheat this season, food and supplies officials of both states said here Monday.

In Punjab, over 90 lakh tonnes of wheat had been procured till Monday morning, while in Haryana over 51.36 lakh tonnes of wheat was procured. The procurement in both states is much higher than procurement in the same period last year, the officials said.

Both states are looking at a bumper crop of over 140 and 90 lakh tonnes respectively this year.

"Government agencies and private millers procured more than 89,82,096 tonnes of wheat till last evening compared to 75,65,900 tonnes of wheat (in the same period) during last year," a Punjab official said.

Wheat procurement had started in both states, which provide nearly 70 percent of the total food grain (wheat and paddy) to the national kitty, April 1 this year. The bulk stocks started arriving after the harvest festival of Baisakhi (April 13).

Sangrur, Patiala and Ludhiana districts were leading in procurement operations in Punjab.

In both states, bulk of the procurement (nearly 99 percent) has been done by government agencies.

Sirsa, Karnal and Kaithal districts were leading in procurement in Haryana.