As unseasonal rains and hailstorms have caused harm to the wheat crop this year, the agrarian community, no doubt, is likely to bear its brunt. Experts have already flagged reduction in crop production. Food Corporation of India (FCI) officials said that the untimely rain, along with several other factors, is going to be the main reason behind low production and procurement this year.
As per information, lifting of more than half of the crop which has been purchased in the market so far has been done. Further, the data revealed that till now, 56.27 lakh metric tonnes of wheat crop has been procured in Haryana, out of which 32.86 lakh metric ton of crop has been lifted, which is 58 percent of the mandi crop. Following the crop purchase, the payment is being made within 48 hours for the crop and efforts are being made to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made for the lifting of the mandi crop.
Besides, it is believed that this time, there will be substantially less procurement of crops by FCI as compared to two years back. In the year 2021-22, 85 lakh metric tonnes of crops were procured by FCI and contrary to this, as expected by the FCI officials, as many as 65 lakh metric tonnes of wheat crop will be procured in the financial year 2023-24 resulting in about 20 lakh metric tonne less crop. However, compared to last year, there is an improvement in the procurement figures this time compared to 2022-23 year as 42 lakh metric tonnes of crops could be procured that year. This information was also given by the Food Corporation of India that a few years ago, 93 lakh metric tonnes of crop were also procured.
Pradeep Singh, Deputy General Manager of FCI, said that all arrangements have been made by the Government of India to ensure the timely purchase of wheat and direct benefit transfer in the account of farmers.
The list of factors responsible for less procurement include untimely rain along with hailstorm, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and private traders. Notably, Ukraine is one of the largest wheat producing countries in the world.
Due to this, the pre-procurement decreased. Apart from this, many times, private players and traders operating in flour mills etc. require wheat on a large scale, and sometimes they buy it directly from the farmers, due to which the procurement also reduces.
On the other hand, the farmers had expected that they would be financially strong but remained helpless in front of nature’s havoc. The standing crop of wheat fell due to stormy winds and the weight of wheat decreased due to standing water in the fields. The shine of wheat also faded. Apart from this, the grain had also become lighter. Later, the Centre issued orders to cut the price per quintal, although the Haryana government had decided to bear the amount of price reduction itself and some other farmers got relief.
According to information received from the Food Corporation of India, 56.27 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has been procured so far. Out of this, FCI purchased 2.7 lakh metric ton of wheat and an amount of about 553 crore has been spent on the same. Out of this, direct payment of Rs 518 crore has been made in the account of the farmers.