Wheat Procurement Target Raised 15% to 34.5 Million Tonnes
Why in the news
With mandi rates slipping under the support price, the Centre has increased how much wheat it will buy this season.
Key facts
- New target: 34.5 MT for the Rabi Marketing Season, up 15%.
- MSP: ₹2,585 per quintal versus mandi average ₹2,572 on April 22.
- Purchased so far: 16.4 MT, nearly half the new target.
- States that asked: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar.
- Millers: asked to buy straight from mandis instead of depending on FCI stocks under the Open Market Sale Scheme.
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Revised target | 34.5 MT |
| Rise over first target | 15% |
| MSP | ₹2,585 per quintal |
| Mandi price on April 22 | ₹2,572 per quintal |
| Procured so far | 16.4 MT |
Why it matters
- Farmers prefer the government’s guaranteed price when private rates fall below it.
- Pushing millers to mandis aims to stop prices from falling further and makes the private sector share the surplus burden.
Key terms
- Procurement: government purchase of grain from farmers at a pre-announced MSP via FCI and state agencies.
- Rabi Marketing Season: usually starts in April, when winter crops such as wheat and mustard reach markets.
- The government acts as buyer of last resort when traders offer less than MSP.
Exam angle
- Target: 34.5 MT, up 15%.
- Agencies: FCI and state agencies; scheme: OMSS.
- Concept: MSP as a price floor.