May 24 (Punjab Khabarnama) : Wheat procurement is going on smoothly in the major purchasing states of the country during the Rabi Marketing Season 2024-25. So far this year, 262.48 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has been purchased in the central pool, which is more than last year’s total purchase of 262.02 lakh metric tonnes.
A total of 22.31 lakh farmers have been benefited during the Rabi season 2024-25 and have received a total Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 59,715 crore. The main contribution in wheat procurement has been from five purchasing states i.e. Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, where respectively 124.26 lakh metric tonnes, 71.49 lakh metric tonnes, 47.78 lakh metric tonnes, 9.66 lakh metric tonnes and 9.07 lakh metric tonnes respectively. One lakh metric tons were purchased.
Rice purchasing also continues
Rice procurement is also going on smoothly. During the Kharif Marketing Season 2023-24, so far 728.42 lakh metric tonnes of paddy equivalent to 489.15 lakh metric tonnes of rice has been purchased directly from 98.26 lakh farmers and a minimum support price of about Rs 1,60,472 crore has been given.
With the above quantum of procurement, the combined stock of wheat and rice in the central pool at present exceeds 600 lakh metric tonnes, which is sufficient to meet the country’s own needs of food grains under PMGKAY and other welfare schemes and to reach the market. Also indicates a pleasant situation for measures.