The Union Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution chaired a meeting of State Food Secretaries to discuss the arrangements for procurement of wheat during the ensuing Rabi Marketing season (RMS) 2021-22 and that of rice (rabi crop) of Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21.
“A total quantity of 427.363 lakh tonnes wheat has been estimated for procurement during the forthcoming RMS 2021-22 which is 9.56 per cent more than the 389.93 lakh tonnes procured during RMS 2020-21,” an official statement said.
Wheat procurement in Punjab is estimated at 130 lakh tonnes, Madhya Pradesh 135 lakh tonnes, Haryana 80 lakh tonnes and Uttar Pradesh 55 lakh tonnes.
Similarly, total 119.72 lakh tonnes of rabi rice has been estimated for procurement in the current KMS 2020-21, up 24.43 per cent from 96.21 lakh tonnes during KMS 2019-20.
The procurement of kharif (summer-sown) rice is currently underway for KMS 2020-21.
Last month, the agriculture ministry released the second advance estimates for 2020-21 crop year (July-June).
India’s foodgrain production is estimated to rise 2 per cent in 2020-21 crop year to an all-time high of 3,033.4 lakh tonnes on better output of rice, wheat, pulses and coarse cereals due to good monsoon rains last year.
In the 2019-20 crop year, the country’s foograin output (comprising wheat, rice, pulses and coarse cereals) stood at a record 2,975 lakh tonnes.
As per the data, rice production is pegged at record 1,203.2 lakh tonne as against 1,188.7 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
Wheat production is estimated to rise to a record 1,092.4 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 from 1,078.6 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains. It procures wheat and rice from farmers at minimum support price (MSP) to meet the requirement under the food law and other welfare schemes.
Under the National Food Security Act or food law, which was passed by Parliament in 2013, the Centre provides 5 kg of wheat and rice per person per month at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 2-3 per kg to over 80 crore people.
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