After a slow start, the Central government's wheat procurement scheme picked up momentum in June with the agencies collecting 10.80 million tonne wheat from farmers during the season.
According to officials, the government bought 10.80 million tonnes of wheat in the current procurement season till Monday, up from 9.22 million tones a year ago.
This year's wheat procurement season is now almost at its end, and daily buys have dwindled to barely around 10,000 tonnes. According to government data, 44,306 tonnes arrived in the wholesale markets on Monday, of which the government bought 10,623 tonnes. In the corresponding day a year ago, 18,140 tonnes had arrived in mandis and the government had bought 294 tonnes.
A senior government official said with wheat arrivals stronger than last year's, the government might procure around 11.5 million tonnes of wheat this year as against last year's procurement of 9.2 million tonnes. At least 12 million tonne is needed till March for state-run welfare schemes.
Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said the government would import up to 5 million tonnes this year to ensure adequate supplies. The government's procurement is likely to fall short of the targeted 15 million tonnes as farmers are holding back stocks.
