Rice procurement during Kharif Marketing Season 2023-24 estimated at 521.27 LMT

The procurement of rice during the forthcoming Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24 (Kharif Crop) has been estimated at 521.27 LMT against the previous year estimate of 518 LMT, wherein 496 LMT was actually procured during last KMS 2022-23.

During KMS 2023-24 (Kharif Crop), the leading states in terms of estimated procurement of rice are Punjab (122 LMT), Chhattisgarh (61 LMT) and Telangana (50 LMT) followed by Odisha (44.28 LMT), Uttar Pradesh (44 LMT), Haryana (40 LMT), Madhya Pradesh (34 LMT), Bihar (30 LMT), Andhra Pradesh (25 LMT), West Bengal (24 LMT) and Tamil Nadu (15 LMT). A quantity of 33.09 LMT of coarse grains/millets (Shri Anna) has been estimated for procurement by the states during the KMS 2023-24 as against actual procurement of 7.37 LMT during KMS 2022-23 (Kharif & Rabi).

Six minor millets have also been introduced to be purchased by the states at MSP of Ragi starting this KMS 2023-24, up to three years, according to an official release. For increasing the procurement and consumption of millets, the government has revised the distribution period of millets, incorporated inter-state transportation of millets, added provision of advanced subsidy, administrative charges @2% and also revised guidelines for facilitating procurement of six minor millets.

States/UTs have been advised to focus on procurement of millets, not only on account of International Year of Millet-2023 but also for diversification of crops and enhanced nutrition in dietary patterns.  These issues were discussed at a meeting of State Food Secretaries and Food Corporation of India (FCI) chaired by Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, to discuss the procurement arrangements for Kharif Crop ensuing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24.

During the meeting, issues relating to gunny bags requirement, route optimisation for transportation of foodgrains from designated depots to Fair Price Shops, improving infrastructure in procurement centres, and monitoring of wheat stock limit portal were also discussed.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary/Secretary (Food) or Representatives of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. Chairman & Managing Director, FCI, and other senior officers of FCI, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Indian Metrological Department and Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare were also present.