New Delhi: The government has established a conservative objective of wheat procurement within the spectrum of 30-32 million tonnes for the rabi marketing season of 2024-25, as conveyed by the food ministry. Despite the Ministry of Agriculture harboring aspirations for a monumental wheat production, projected at 114-115 million tonnes in the crop year spanning July to June 2023-24, the set target remains modest.
The determination of this target unfolded during a session attended by state food secretaries, presided over by Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra in the national capital on Wednesday. A statement from the ministry elucidated, “Post deliberations, the projections for wheat procurement in the impending rabi marketing season of 2024-25 were fixed within the 30-32 million tonnes bracket.”
Beyond the confines of wheat, the ministry has outlined a procurement target for rabi paddy, equivalent to rice, ranging from 9-10 million tonnes. Additionally, the government has stipulated a procurement aim of 6,00,000 tonnes for rabi coarse grains/millets (Shri Anna). During the meeting, the Central authorities urged states and Union Territories to prioritize millet procurement, fostering crop diversification and enriching nutritional facets in dietary paradigms.
In the 2023-24 season, governmental procurement of wheat amounted to approximately 26.2 million tonnes, falling short of the 34.15 million-tonne target. The preceding year, 2022-23, witnessed a meager wheat procurement of 18.8 million tonnes against a lofty target of 44.4 million tonnes, the decline attributed to diminished production.