The Hindu Business Line : Procurement agencies told to buy adequate wheat

Advertisement

New Delhi Feb. 12 The Government on Monday asked the procurement agencies to co-ordinate arrangements to ensure adequate wheat purchases in order to maintain sufficient buffer stocks.

"The Government expects to procure sufficient quantity of wheat in the 2007-08 marketing season to meet the requirement of the Public Distribution System and maintain adequate buffer stock," an official release said.

This follows a meeting here today of the Food Secretaries of wheat growing States, chaired by the Food and Public Distribution Secretary, Mr T. Nand Kumar, to take necessary advance action to ensure smooth running of the procurement operations.

As per the second advance estimates compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, wheat production in the present rabi is likely to be above 72.5 million tonnes (mt). This is against the production of 69.4 mt last year. Even after considering the rise in direct purchases by traders and mills in recent years, it is expected that FCI and State agencies will be able to procure substantially higher quantities of wheat this year, the statement said.

During the meeting, Mr Kumar said States such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh will need to strengthen their procurement infrastructure as wheat has been sown in more areas in these States during the current rabi season. This is likely to lead to a higher production in these States than last year.

Teams from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the main procurement agency, will soon visit all the wheat growing States to coordinate procurement arrangements, according to the release. FCI and State procurement agencies have been asked to ensure strict monitoring at procurement centres so that the quality of the procured grain is not below the fair average quality.

Dow Jones reports: The Centre plans to procure 150 lakh tonnes of wheat for buffer stocks, Mr Nandakumar said in a interview.

More Stories on : Wheat | Agricultural Policy

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
HDFC Bank ties up with Godrej Aadhaar

Procurement agencies told to buy adequate wheat

Fresh pulse to sustain winter rains in North

Action close-up

Blooming exports

Potato futures up on crop damage fears

Signs of revival in arecanut market

Spot rubber under pressure

Meet to discuss alternative use of tea garden lands

Low volume continues at Coimbatore tea sale

No activity

Hindalco shares crash 13.74%

Visakha Dairy hikes milk price again

Sharp fall in pepper futures

Hindalco deal may not impact aluminium prices

Launch of spot exchanges runs into rough weather