Wheat procurement falls in Punjab by 16%, rises 50% in UP

Wheat procurement in punjab was recorded at 11 million tonnes in the current rabi season, which is a decline of 16% over last season’s procurement of 12.8 million tonnes. In the country as a whole, procurement fell from 38.2 million tonnes in 2011-12 to 27 million tonnes, of which Punjab has contributed 40%, in the current season.

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Punjab’s projected contribution to the national wheat pool — at 40% — is the highest in the country though the state has seen a drastic fall in procurement.

Wheat procurement in the state was recorded at 11 million tonnes in the current rabi season, which is a decline of 16% over last season’s procurement of 12.8 million tonnes. In the country as a whole, procurement fell from 38.2 million tonnes in 2011-12 to 27 million tonnes, of which Punjab has contributed 40%, in the current season.

"Due to bad weather in the maturing season in wheat-producing states, production was less than expected," said Punjab State Farmers Commission (PSFC) consultant PS Rangi.

There was no major cause for concern because apart from the current season’s procurement, the national buffer stock was 22 million tonnes, he added.

Of the other wheat-producing states, Uttar Pradesh witnessed an increase from last season’s 2.1 million tonnes to 5 million tonnes this season.

Recently agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan had said Punjab would continue to serve as a major foodgrain producer.