Import duty unlikely to affect wheat procurement in Punjab, Haryana
CHANDIGARH: Private flour millers in Punjab and Haryana feel the 10 per cent import duty will have little impact on wheat procurement for public distribution system while private buying of the cereal will remain limited due to lack of trading infrastructure and higher levy in the two-states. The procurement for public distribution system is expected to better than the last year in the two-states due to favourable weather this year.
"Over the years the trading activity in wheat has eliminated in the two states due to higher taxes and well established infrastructure of government agencies for procurement," Naresh Ghai, president of Punjab Roller Flour Mills Association said.
The wheat procurement season set to commence on 1 April in the two states. A higher procurement is expected to replenish depleting stock of Food Corporation of India. A target of 33 million tonne wheat has been set for the current procurement season, higher by 43 per cent over the last corresponding season. The procurement missed target due to scanty rains in the last year and stood at 22.96 million tonnes. The procurement figure stood at in Punjab and Haryana stood at 104.44 lakh tonnes and 67.78 lakh tonnes respectively in 15-16 Rabi season.
The centre government had fixed minimum support price of Rs 1,625 per quintal of wheat for the current season. This year Haryana is expecting around 75 lakh tonnes of wheat during the Rabi procurement season and procurement is expected to higher in Punjab as well.
"The produce would be procured by all five government procurement agencies at The government has already requested for CCL arrangement of Rs 4,900 crore to the Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai for making payment to farmers for the purchase of produce, minister of state for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Karan Dev Kamboj said. He said that Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department and HAFED would procure 33 per cent each, Haryana Warehousing Corporation and Food Corporation of India were allocated 12 per cent share each and Haryana Agro Industries Corporation would procure 10 per cent of the arrival.
"Over the years the trading activity in wheat has eliminated in the two states due to higher taxes and well established infrastructure of government agencies for procurement," Naresh Ghai, president of Punjab Roller Flour Mills Association said.
The wheat procurement season set to commence on 1 April in the two states. A higher procurement is expected to replenish depleting stock of Food Corporation of India. A target of 33 million tonne wheat has been set for the current procurement season, higher by 43 per cent over the last corresponding season. The procurement missed target due to scanty rains in the last year and stood at 22.96 million tonnes. The procurement figure stood at in Punjab and Haryana stood at 104.44 lakh tonnes and 67.78 lakh tonnes respectively in 15-16 Rabi season.
The centre government had fixed minimum support price of Rs 1,625 per quintal of wheat for the current season. This year Haryana is expecting around 75 lakh tonnes of wheat during the Rabi procurement season and procurement is expected to higher in Punjab as well.
"The produce would be procured by all five government procurement agencies at The government has already requested for CCL arrangement of Rs 4,900 crore to the Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai for making payment to farmers for the purchase of produce, minister of state for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Karan Dev Kamboj said. He said that Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department and HAFED would procure 33 per cent each, Haryana Warehousing Corporation and Food Corporation of India were allocated 12 per cent share each and Haryana Agro Industries Corporation would procure 10 per cent of the arrival.
