Wheat procurement for RMS 2023-24 starts, 11k MT procured

Procurement of wheat for Rabi Marketing Season 2023-24 has commenced in the country and 10,727 metric tonnes of wheat have been procured up to March 27, as compared to nil procurement last year.

Wheat has been procured in Madhya Pradesh in the areas of Ujjain, Dewas, Indore, Shajapur and Sehore, an official release said. It is also worthwhile to note that the total procurement last year during the month of March itself was around 10,000 metric tonnes only whereas this year this figure has already crossed on 27.03.2023.

Against about 18 lakh farmers actually participating in public procurement operation last year for selling their produce to government agencies, more than 31 lakh farmers have already registered themselves this year for participation in public procurement operations of wheat. These are good signs for healthy procurement of wheat this year.

A quantity of 341.50 LMT wheat has been estimated for procurement during RMS 2023-24 as against 187.92 LMT wheat actually procured during last RMS 2022-23. Based on the information furnished by the state governments, state-wise procurement estimates were finalised at the State Food Secretaries meeting on March 1.

As per the Second Advance Estimates published by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the estimated production of wheat is around 1,121 lakh metric tonnes this season. Latest reports from field offices of FCI showed that the recent rains have not affected the production of wheat.