Govt reduces wheat procurement target, as farmers sell produce to pvt traders

Wheat growers are turning to private traders in the border areas of Punjab to sell their produce, as they are receiving higher prices than the minimum support price (MSP) set by the state government.

At Malpur in Baddi, the growers have already contributed 8.55 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat against a target of 9 MT. Last year, this centre had contributed only 7.75 MT against the target of 500 MT, reflecting the growers’ preference for selling their produce in private grain markets in places like Ropar in Punjab.

The centre at the market yard in Nalagarh, however, has contributed 60.4 MT till now as against the target of 86 MT. The target was scaled down from 500 MT last year, as the government agency procured only 78.3 MT of wheat.

At the centre located in the Takarala market yard of Una district, procurement has been rather dismal, as only 41 MT of wheat was purchased against the target of 301 MT. Last year, this centre had supplied 273.5 MT against the target of 1,000 MT.

Though procurement targets were set based on production estimates, given the poor response last year, the figures were revised and significantly curtailed this year. The state’s target of procuring 10,000 MT of wheat last year was not met and only 2,880.25 MT was purchased. “As a result, this year’s target was reduced to 3,270 MT, of which 2,031.7 MT has already been procured at 10 centres located in Solan, Sirmaur, Una and Kangra districts,” said Director, Food and Civil Supplies, Ramkumar Gautam.

To provide better prices, the state government had increased the MSP from Rs 2,275 per quintal to Rs 2,425 per quintal this year. However, despite the Rs 150 per MT increase, the wheat growers have shown little interest in selling their crop to the government.

A few centres, however, have reported higher purchases than this year’s target. At the Milwan centre in Kangra district, 281.25 MT of wheat has already been procured, exceeding the target of 45 MT. Last year, only 40.65 MT was procured against the target of 1,200 MT. Similarly, at the Fatehpur anaj mandi in Kangra, the target of 14 MT has been exceeded, as 26.6 MT has already been procured. Last year, only 13.1 MT of wheat was secured against the target of 1,000 MT.

At the Riyali centre in Kangra, 924.7 MT of wheat has been procured so far, against the target of 1,348 MT. At the Paonta Sahib centre, 484.7 MT of wheat has been procured against the target of 720 MT.

At the Nagrota Bagwan centre in Kangra district, wheat has not been procured this year as was the case last year, though the target this year was 100 MT, reduced from 300 MT last year.

Himachal Tribune