Question : PRODUCTION OF WHEAT

(a) whether the production of wheat is estimated to be more than the targeted production during the current season;

(b) if so, the names of the States producing more wheat than the target fixed;

(c) the percentage of increase estimated;

(d) whether the Government proposes to procure the excess quantum produced;

(e) if not, the reasons therefor;

(f) whether the Government has formulated a scheme for procurement of wheat upto a stipulated target from each State;

(g) if so, the details thereof; and

(h) the measures being taken by the Government for the proper arrangement fo marketing of the farmers` yield?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)

(a) to (c) : In 2004-05 the targeted production of wheat at the all India level is 79.50 million tonnes. Against this target, the production of wheat, as per the second advance estimates of production for 2004-05, is 73.03 million tonnes, which is lower by 8.14% vis-à-vis the target.

(d) & (e) : In keeping with the objective of ensuring remunerative prices, the Government announces every season Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for major agricultural commodities, including wheat. In order to avoid distress sale, the designated agencies like the Food Corporation of India (FCI) undertake procurement as and when market prices fall below MSP. The procurement of wheat constituted 23% of total wheat production in the country during the rabi marketing year 2004-05.

(f) & (g) : In consultation with the wheat producing States, the procurement of wheat has been estimated at 180 lakh tonnes for the rabi marketing year 2005-06. The state-wise figures are given in the Annexure.

(h) : The Government of India has recently launched a Scheme, inter-alia, for additional agricultural marketing infrastructure and for strengthening/modernizing existing agricultural marketing infrastructures. Under this scheme, credit linked back-ended subsidy shall be provided on the capital cost of general or commodity specific agricultural marketing infrastructure. This scheme is, however, implement-able in those States which have amended their Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC Act), wherever required, to allow direct marketing, contract farming and permit setting up of markets in private and cooperative sectors.


Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply to parts (f) & (g) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1626 on Production of Wheat due for reply on 14.03.2005

(Lakh Tonnes)

States	Estimated Procurement
Bihar	2.00
Delhi	0.45
Gujarat	0.50
Haryana	53.00
Jharkhand	0.05
Madhya Pradesh	4.00
Punjab	95.00
Rajasthan	3.00
Uttar Pradesh	21.00
Uttaranchal	1.00
Total	180.00

(Lakh Tonnes)	States	Target	Estimated Production	Andhra Pradesh	0.10	0.08	Assam	1.10	0.77	Bihar	54.50	45.74	Chhattisgarh	1.10	0.73	Gujarat	16.00	16.95	Haryana	97.00	94.50	Himachal Pr.	6.50	4.95	Jammu & Kashmir	4.40	3.39	Jharkhand	1.27	0.74	Karnataka	2.50	1.66	Madhya Pradesh	91.00	70.68	Maharashtra	12.00	10.42	Orissa	0.12	0.26	Punjab	160.00	151.81	Rajasthan	66.00	54.09	Uttar Pradesh	260.00	255.67	Uttranchal	8.00	7.70	West Bengal	12.00	9.07	Others	1.41	1.07	All-India	795.00	730.28

Area - `000 Hectares	Production - `000 Tonnes	Yield - Kg/hectare

State	Wheat	Area	Production	Yield
Andhra Pradesh	12	8	667
Assam	64	76	1188
Bihar	2119	3778	1783
Chhattisgarh	107	86	804
Gujarat	790	2023	2561
Haryana	2303	9134	3966
Himachal Pr.	361	498	1380
Jammu & Kashmir	262	309	1179
Jharkhand	75	118	1578
Karnataka	231	111	481
Kerala
Madhya Pradesh	4046	7237	1789
Maharashtra	668	872	1305
Orissa	7	10	1429
Punjab	3440	14415	4190
Rajasthan	2103	5876	2794
Tamilnadu
Uttar Pradesh	9150	25567	2794
Uttranchal	397	769	1937
West Bengal	426	1064	2498
Others	57	107	1877
All-India	26618	72058	2707