Wheat procurement rises 2% to 27.04 mt

Wheat procurement by the government has increased by 2 <g data-gr-id="20">per cent</g> to 27.04 million tonnes (MT) so far during the current marketing year. The total wheat procured during the same period last year was 26.5 million tonnes, according to official data.

Meanwhile, for the current marketing year (April-March), the Centre had relaxed quality norms for 

wheat procurement in order to give relief to farmers affected by unseasonal rains and hailstorms. The Center has decided to bear value <g data-gr-id="15">cut,</g> if any, imposed for shriveled, broken and luster lost grains, so that farmers get full Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce.

According to sources, most of the wheat procured under relaxed specifications, is either shriveled or there is loss of lustre. Meanwhile, on a state-wise basis, Punjab continues to be the largest contributor to the food basket of the <g data-gr-id="14">county</g> with 9.95 MT of wheat procured this year so far.