Record Kharif Rice Procurement Expected Kharif

Anticipating a record foodgrain harvest of around 105 million tonnes in the current kharif, the food ministry expects rice procurement to touch an all-time high of 14.7 million tonnes this year.

Last year, the state agencies had managed to procure around 14.1 million tonnes of rice. The total kharif foodgrain output in 1997-98 was a little over 103 million tonnes, including around 83 million tonnes of rice. The paddy output in the current kharif is, however, yet to be precisely estimated though the standing crop is reported to be in excellent shape in most parts of the country.

The rice procurement estimate is based on preliminary indications given by food and civil supplies secretaries of 11 major paddy growing states who met here yesterday to review the arrangements for paddy purchases in the ensuing kharif marketing season. Some of the states, notably Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are expecting the new crop to start arriving in the mandis relatively early this year. The procurement operations will, consequently, begin from September 15, instead of the usual October 1.

 

Union food secretary R S Mathur has urged the grain procurement agencies, including the Food Corporation of India (FCI), not to compromise on quality while making purchases at the statutory minimum support prices of Rs 440 a quintal for common rice and Rs 470 for `grade A' type.

Mathur said the Centre currently has a stock of around 12.19 million tonnes of rice and nearly 15 million tonnes of wheat. This is higher than the buffer stocking norm of keeping at least 9.2 million tonnes of rice and 13.1 million tonnes of wheat on July 1, every year.

He told the states that the Centre was in a position to release more foodgrains for meeting additional requirement for the festival season. In fact, some additional quantities were already being given to the states for the past six months for distribution through the targeted public distribution system.