Wheat procurement has crossed 5.5 million tonnes (mt) in the 2012-13 rabi marketing season as arrivals have begun to pick up in key producing States of Haryana and Punjab.
So far, the Government agencies in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have procured a total of 5.57 mt against 4.68 mt in the corresponding period last year. This is about 19 per cent or 8.92 lakh tonne more than in the corresponding period last year. The Governments of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab are leading the grain procurement.
Madhya Pradesh has so far procured 2.84 mt, an increase of 78 per cent over last year's 1.59 mt. Procurement in Haryana also crossed 2 mt, almost flat at last year's level.
However, in Punjab, the procurement so far stands at 4.04 lakh tonnes, down by more than half over corresponding previous year. The prolonged winter and untimely rains in recent weeks have delayed harvest in Punjab and Haryana.
The country is poised for yet another bumper harvest, with the crop size projected to touch 90 mt.
Procurement by the Food Corporation of India is yet to gain momentum. So far, the Corporation has procured 5.5 lakh tonnes. Most of its procurement has happened in States such as Haryana and Rajasthan.