Has the Centre Disbursed Rs 62,156 Crore to 21 Lakh Farmers for Wheat at MSP This Season?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rs 62,156 crore allocated to support farmers
- Over 256.3 lakh metric tonnes of wheat procured
- Procurement exceeds last year’s figures by 24.78%
- Top states: Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana
- MSP payments made within 24 to 48 hours
New Delhi, May 1 (NationPress) The procurement of wheat during the current rabi marketing season is proceeding efficiently across major producing states. To date, over Rs 256.3 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have been procured at the minimum support price (MSP), resulting in payments totaling Rs 62,155.96 crores to 21.03 lakh farmers, as stated in an official announcement made on Thursday.
As of April 30 this year, the amount of wheat procured has already exceeded last year's total procurement of 205.41 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) for the same date, marking a notable increase of 24.78 percent. All five major wheat-producing states—Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh—have reported higher procurement levels compared to last year, according to the statement.
The contributions from each state indicate that Punjab leads with 103.89 LMT, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 67.57 LMT, while Haryana closely follows at 65.67 LMT. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh contributed 11.44 LMT and 7.55 LMT, respectively. The overall procurement target for this year is set at 312 LMT.
With a significant portion of the procurement period still available in the ongoing rabi marketing season, the nation is on track to exceed last year’s wheat procurement figures for the central pool by a considerable margin, according to the official release.
The successful outcome in wheat procurement this year can be attributed to the dedicated efforts of the Department of Food and Public Distribution. They began by formulating state-specific Action Plans based on insights from prior years, which were communicated to states well in advance. Key actionable items such as raising awareness among farmers, facilitating farmer registration, ensuring procurement centre readiness, and making timely MSP payments were consistently monitored through regular review meetings to address any potential challenges promptly. In many instances, MSP payments were completed within 24 to 48 hours, the statement noted.
The initiatives taken by the Department of Food and Public Distribution also included implementing stockholding limits via the wheat stock portal, ensuring prompt approvals for adjustments in FAQ norms, and conducting field visits by officials to assess the situation on the ground for prompt actions when necessary, the statement added.