Centre extends wheat procurement deadline after export ban
India Today
The decision comes in the wake of requests by state governments and UTs to continue the procurement process.
The Centre has extended the deadline for wheat procurement from states till May 31. The food ministry has directed Food Corporation of India (FCI) to continue with wheat procurement under the central pool from all wheat producing states and Union Territories (UT).
The extended period is expected to benefit farmers. The decision comes in the wake of requests by state governments and UTs to continue the procurement process.
Meanwhile, the procurement of wheat is progressing smoothly in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J-K, Gujarat, Bihar and Rajasthan.
The wheat procurement has been less during ensuing RMS 2022-23, corresponding mainly due to the higher market prices than MSP, wherein farmers have been selling wheat to private traders.
The Central government had on May 13 decided to restrict exporting wheat to rein in high prices of wheat, except in case of irrevocable letter of credit and requests from neighbouring/food-deficit countries. As of May 14, 180 LMT of wheat has been procured, benefiting about 16.83 lakh farmers with MSP value of Rs 36,208 crore.
The state-wise revised closing dates for procurement of wheat are:
Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, J-K- May 31Rajasthan -June 10Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar- June 15Uttarakhand- June 30
