(a) whether there has been a decline in the quantum of wheat procured by the Government agencies which lagged behind targets fixed for the year 2015-16;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor indicating the targets fixed and achieved and the prices paid by the Government, State-wise; and
(c) the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure that farmers get the M.S.P. for their crops?
MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a) & (b): A quantity of 280.88 lakh MT of wheat has been procured for Central Pool during Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2015-16, whereas, during RMS 2014-15, procurement of wheat was only 280.23 lakh MT. Thus, the procurement of Wheat in this year has marginally surpassed the previous year’s procurement.
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State wise targets for procurement and the quantity procured in Central Pool in RMS 2015-16 is as under :-
In lakh MT
State Target for Procurement Quantity Procured
Punjab 120 103.44
Haryana 70 67.78
U.P 30 22.67
M.P 60 73.09
Rajasthan 18 13.00
Uttarakhand 1.5 0.04
Others 0.5 0.86
Total 300.0 280.88
As procurement always fluctuates based on the crop production & market situation in a particular season, the procurement of more than 90% of the target is a good performance, even though it is short of the targets fixed. The slight shortfall in procurement is due to crop damage because of adverse weather conditions during growing/harvesting period in the States like Punjab, Haryana, U.P, M.P and Rajasthan which had also affected the yield.
Government of India had announced Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs.1450 per quintal for procurement of wheat for RMS 2015-16, which has been uniformly paid to the farmers in various States/ UTs.
(c): The steps taken by the Government to ensure that farmers get the MSP for their crops are at Annex-1.