MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
( SHRI SHANTA KUMAR )
(a), (b), (c) & (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) ,(b), (c) & (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 655 FOR
ANSWER IN THE LOK SABHA ON 11-05-2000.
(a) & (b) : As per reports received from Government of Punjab/Haryana, no big companies
like Godrej, Hindustan Lever Limited, Kargil India, I.T.C. Agro, etc. are making procurement
of wheat in these States. However, private traders have purchased 1.85 lakh MTs. and
0.90 lakh MTs. of wheat out of the total arrivals of 82.35 lakh MTs. and 34.99 lakh MTs. of
wheat in Punjab and Haryana, respectively.
Under the Minimum Support Price Scheme of the Government, FCI and the State Procuring
Agencies are to procure any stocks of wheat which is offered by the farmers at the designated
mandis/purchase centres if it is within the quality specifications announced by the Government
of India. The farmer is, however, free to sell his produce in the open market or the procuring
agencies, as is advantageous to him. Therefore, there is no restriction on purchase of wheat
from mandis by the private trade.
(c) & (d) : Does not arise, Sir. However, the FCI/State Governments ensure that price
support operations are undertaken to prevent distress sale of foodgrains by farmers.
