70% more wheat lifted so far: Centre

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 3

The government today said around 70% more wheat has been procured for the central pool in current rabi marketing season compared to the corresponding period of last year.

292.52 LMT procured

• Punjab 114.76 LMT
• Haryana 80.55 LMT
• MP 73.76 LMT

“Wheat procurement is going on at brisk pace in procuring states/UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Over 292.52 LMT has been procured up to May 2. This is an increase of approximately 70% against the last year corresponding purchase of 171.53 LMT,” according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. About 28.80 lakh farmers had already benefited in the ongoing RMS 2021-22, it added.

“The government is continuing to procure rabi crops at the MSP from farmers as per existing price support scheme. Around Rs 17,495 crore has already been transferred directly into the accounts of farmers of Punjab.”

Officials said of the total purchase of 292.52 LMT wheat, major contributors were Punjab-114.76 LMT (39.23%), Haryana-80.55 LMT (27.53%) and

Madhya Pradesh-73.76 LMT (25.21%).

A sum of Rs 17,495 crore in Punjab and Rs 9,268.24 crore in Haryana had been transferred directly into farmers’ accounts corresponding to procurement up to April 30.

This is the first time farmers of Punjab and Haryana are receiving payments directly into their bank accounts against sale of their wheat. The two states have been the epicentre of farmers’ protest against the three central farm laws.