New Delhi, Apr 6 The government has procured 4.72 lakh tonnes of wheat this year so far, which is lower by 52 per cent from that in the year-ago period, due to less arrival of the grain in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.

Food Corporation of India (FCI) had bought 9.87 lakh tonnes of wheat in the corresponding period of last year. Wheat procurement starts from the middle of March and picks up from April 1. The procurement ends in June.

The government had procured 22.5 million tonnes in the entire 2010—11 marketing year (April—March). FCI expects the procurement to touch 26.2 million tonnes in 2011—12 as output is estimated to be a record 84.27 million tonnes in 2010—11 crop year (July—June).

In Madhya Pradesh, procurement has declined to 4.68 lakh tonnes till yesterday from 7.72 lakh tonne in the year—ago period even though state is paying Rs 100 per quintal more to farmers than the Centre’s minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1,120 per quintal.

Arrivals in Madhya Pradesh declined to 5.71 lakh tonnes compared to 9.80 lakh tonnes in the period under review.

However, the government’s purchase in Gujarat has risen to 3,562 tonnes so far from 120 tonnes in the year—ago period.

In Gujarat, arrivals this year are higher at 87,362 tonnes as against 77,194 tonnes in the year—ago period.

The arrival of wheat crop in Haryana has not picked up yet due to delay in harvesting. So far only 329 tonnes of wheat has arrived in Haryana mandis compared with 2.07 lakh tonnes in the year—ago period.

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