Rs 2.30 lakh crore paid to 1.29 crore farmers in lieu of purchase of paddy and wheat
04-Jul-2024 10:48 AM
New Delhi. Data from the Union Ministry of Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution shows that 266 lakh tonnes of wheat was procured by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the Rabi Marketing Season of 2024. More than 22 lakh farmers benefited from this purchase at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), and an amount of Rs 61 lakh crore was paid into their bank accounts.
According to the data, during the last one year, paddy and wheat were procured from 1.29 crore farmers at the national level, in lieu of which an amount of Rs 2.30 lakh crore was paid. Government procurement of wheat has now stopped.
According to the Food Ministry, 262 lakh tonnes of wheat was procured by the FCI in the Rabi Marketing Season of the year 2023. The minimum support price of wheat was increased by Rs 150 from Rs 2125 per quintal in 2023 to Rs 2275 per quintal in 2024.
Usually the purchase of wheat starts from April 1, but for the convenience of the farmers, the process of purchase was started about a fortnight earlier.
This clearly indicates the government's commitment to protect the interests of farmers and its resolve to ensure food security for all. During the Rabi marketing season of the year 2022, only 188 lakh tonnes of wheat could be purchased for the central pool.
During the current year, there was a good increase in government procurement of wheat in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan as compared to last year. During the period under review, wheat procurement jumped from 2.20 lakh tonnes to 9.31 lakh tonnes in Uttar Pradesh and from 4.38 lakh tonnes to 12.06 lakh tonnes in Rajasthan. Wheat procurement also took place in a better manner in Punjab and Haryana.
Good procurement of wheat is helping Food Corporation of India in ensuring regular supply of food grains in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and will not face any difficulty in clearing the stock of about 184 lakh tonnes of wheat required for distribution under other welfare schemes including Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.