Indian wheat procurement crosses 24m tonne
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
NEW DELHI, June 8 (PTI): The procurement of wheat by the Indian government has crossed record 24 million tonne-mark so far in the current season and is set to breach the target of 24.4 million tonnes.
"Wheat procurement by government agencies as on June 5 has crossed 24 million mark. Till this date last season, government agencies had procured 21.7 million tonnes of wheat," according to an official statement.
Wheat procurement began in late March and will continue till June.
The government has been able to beat last year's record of 22.69 million tonnes on the back of higher minimum support price (MSP) and bumper wheat crop.
Wheat MSP has increased to Rs 1,080 per quintal from Rs 1,000 a quintal in the previous season. The country is estimated to have harvested 77.63 million tonnes of wheat in 2008-09 season, slightly less than the previous year's record of 78.57 million tonnes.
The government also said that it has purchased a record 30 million tonnes of rice in the current season. Last year, rice procurement stood at 28.49 million tonnes.
An estimated bumper crop of nearly 100 million tonnes of rice and a rise in MSP to Rs 900 a quintal for common grade wheat and Rs 930 for A grade variety has contributed for higher procurement, it said. Rice procurement runs from October to September.
"Wheat procurement by government agencies as on June 5 has crossed 24 million mark. Till this date last season, government agencies had procured 21.7 million tonnes of wheat," according to an official statement.
Wheat procurement began in late March and will continue till June.
The government has been able to beat last year's record of 22.69 million tonnes on the back of higher minimum support price (MSP) and bumper wheat crop.
Wheat MSP has increased to Rs 1,080 per quintal from Rs 1,000 a quintal in the previous season. The country is estimated to have harvested 77.63 million tonnes of wheat in 2008-09 season, slightly less than the previous year's record of 78.57 million tonnes.
The government also said that it has purchased a record 30 million tonnes of rice in the current season. Last year, rice procurement stood at 28.49 million tonnes.
An estimated bumper crop of nearly 100 million tonnes of rice and a rise in MSP to Rs 900 a quintal for common grade wheat and Rs 930 for A grade variety has contributed for higher procurement, it said. Rice procurement runs from October to September.