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

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Wheat procurement has surpassed last year's figures.
- Over Rs 62,156 crores paid to farmers.
- Punjab is the leading state in procurement.
- Effective planning and timely payments are crucial.
- 312 LMT is the procurement target for this year.
New Delhi, May 1 (NationPress) The procurement process for wheat in the current rabi marketing season is proceeding effectively across major procuring states in India, with over Rs 256.3 lakh metric tonnes of wheat acquired at the minimum support price (MSP) thus far. A total of Rs 62,155.96 crores has been disbursed to 21.03 lakh farmers, as reported in an official announcement made on Thursday.
As of April 30 this year, the wheat procurement figures have already exceeded last year’s total of 205.41 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) for the same date, reflecting an impressive increase of 24.78 percent. The five leading wheat procuring states—Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh—have all reported higher procurement levels compared to the previous year, the statement noted.
The breakdown of contributions per state indicates that Punjab leads with 103.89 LMT, trailed by Madhya Pradesh at 67.57 LMT, and Haryana closely follows with 65.67 LMT. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh recorded 11.44 LMT and 7.55 LMT, respectively. The overall procurement target for this year is set at 312 LMT.
With ample procurement time still remaining in the current rabi marketing season, the country is on track to surpass last year’s wheat procurement figures for the central pool considerably, according to the official statement.
The positive outcomes in wheat procurement this year are attributed to the dedicated efforts of the Department of Food and Public Distribution. These efforts include formulating state-specific Action Plans based on insights from previous years, which were communicated to states well in advance. Initiatives such as raising awareness among farmers, registering them, preparing procurement centers, and ensuring timely MSP payments were regularly monitored through review meetings to address potential hurdles effectively. In most instances, farmers received their MSP payments within 24 to 48 hours, the statement added.
The Department has also enforced stockholding limits via the wheat stock portal, granted timely approvals for relaxing FAQ norms, and conducted field visits by officials to assess conditions in specific districts to facilitate prompt action when necessary, the statement concluded.