Wheat Procurement Reaches Record 405 lakh metric tonnes till May 29

Wheat procurement has reached an all-time high amid protests against the three farm regulations, while paddy procurement has also reached an all-time high. Wheat procurement has also surpassed the 400 LMT level for the first time. 

According to the latest data from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), wheat procurement in the ongoing rabi marketing season (RMS) reached 405 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) on May 29, up 4% from 390 LMT in RMS 2020-21. The amount of wheat purchased this year is the most ever. 

Madhya Pradesh was the leading wheat procuring state last year. Wheat procurement has been higher this rabi season in Punjab and Haryana, which are the epicenters of farmers' protest. Wheat procurement figures for Punjab and Haryana were 127 LMT and 74 LMT, respectively, last year.

The all-time high wheat procurement follows the all-time high paddy procurement. According to FCI data, paddy procurement was 789 LMT in the 2020-21 kharif marketing season, compared to 773 LMT in KMS 2019-20. 

Punjab has declared having the largest paddy procurement. Telangana, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana are the states that follow. 

During the present 2021-22 rabi marketing season, there were around 19,036 wheat procurement centers, according to FCI, while the number of paddy procurement centers was 73,870 during KMS 2020-21. 

The Centre purchases food grains with two goals in mind: ensuring MSP to farmers and making food grains available to the poor at affordable costs through the public distribution system. 

According to FCI, the total stock of food grains, wheat, rice, and coarse grains in the central pool is around 1,000 lakh metric tonnes, with wheat (525.65 LMT), rice (304.85 LMT), unmilled paddy (262.20 LMT equivalent to 176 LMT of rice), and coarse grain (525.65 LMT equivalent to 176 LMT of rice), and coarse grain (525.65 LMT equivalent to 176 LMT of rice) (7.50 LMT). Foodgrain supply in the central pool was roughly 800 LMT in May of last year. 

Foodgrain stocks are currently substantially greater than buffer stock averages. According to current foodgrain stocking standards, which have been in place since July 2017, a total quantity of 210.40 LMT of wheat and rice is required as operating stock and strategic reserves on April 1, followed by 411.20 LMT on July 1, 307.7 LMT on October 1, and 214.10 LMT on January 1.