Madhya Pradesh Delays Wheat Procurement Due to Moisture Issues
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Synopsis
The Madhya Pradesh government has pushed back its wheat procurement program from March 1 to March 15, with procurement set at Rs 2,600 per quintal. The delay is due to high moisture content and incomplete harvesting, affecting the quality of wheat. Farmers can register for procurement at various centers until March 31.
Key Takeaways
- Wheat procurement postponed to March 15
- Procurement price set at Rs 2,600 per quintal
- Registration deadline is March 31
- 80 lakh tonnes expected this season
- High-protein varieties like Sharbati and Duram in demand
Bhopal, March 1 (NationPress) The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to postpone its wheat procurement initiative, delaying the start date from March 1 to March 15. Wheat will be procured at Rs 2,600 per quintal across approximately 4,000 procurement centers. Farmers are now expected to deliver their harvest to these centers on March 15.
State Food Civil Supplies Minister Govind Singh Rajput indicated that the delay is attributed to incomplete wheat harvesting and high moisture content in the wheat arriving at mandis. Crops with high moisture levels will not meet the fair average quality standards and may result in lower prices for farmers. Farmers have been urged to register for wheat procurement at the designated support price centers, with the registration deadline set for March 31. The state government has communicated necessary information via SMS to registered farmers.
Moreover, farmers have the option to register from home through a dedicated web/mobile application or at facility centers in Gram Panchayats, Janpad Panchayats, and Tehsil offices. The government anticipates around 80 lakh tonnes of wheat for this rabi season in Madhya Pradesh.
If the expected quantity arrives at the mandis, farmers in the state could receive a total support price of approximately Rs 19,400 crore, along with a bonus of Rs 1,400 crore.
The Minister mentioned that wheat procurement will initially occur in early arrival areas such as Indore, Ujjain, Bhopal, and Narmadapuram divisions, with procurement in the remaining divisions starting on March 17.
The Government of India has raised the support price by Rs 150 per quintal for the Rabi marketing year 2025-26, setting it at Rs 2,425 per quintal. However, in Madhya Pradesh, wheat will be procured at the higher support price of Rs 2,600 per quintal, which includes an additional assistance of Rs 175 per quintal. The state is renowned for its high-protein wheat varieties like Sharbati and Duram, which are in high demand both domestically and internationally.
Earlier this month, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav reiterated at a press conference in Jabalpur that his government would procure wheat at Rs 2,600 per quintal. Additionally, paddy farmers will receive a direct benefit of Rs 2,000 per hectare if they have sown the crop.
Government statistics suggest that the area dedicated to wheat sown in Madhya Pradesh ranges between 6.4 million and 9.5 million hectares. According to the second advance estimate for 2022-23, this area was 7.15 million hectares.
Wheat procurement data reveals that in 2018-19, 73.16 million tonnes were procured at a cost of Rs 11,298.21 crore, in 2019-20, 73.64 million tonnes at Rs 13,560.59 crore, in 2020-21, 129.42 million tonnes at Rs 24,806.91 crore, in 2021-22, 128.15 million tonnes at Rs 25,301.62 crore, and in 2022-23, 46.03 million tonnes at Rs 9,271.42 crore.
