Central teams are examining wheat crop in seven districts of Rajasthan, where untimely rain and hailstorm last month had damaged the rabi harvest, for procurement on minimum support prices after relaxation in norms for the grains which have lost shine. Wheat grain samples were supplied earlier this week to the Food Corporation of India’s centres where procurement has begun.
State Food & Civil Supplies Secretary Mugdha Sinha said here on Wednesday that the action taken by the Centre, at the State government’s request, would provide much needed relief to farmers. The districts where the Central approval for procurement of wheat grains having lost up to 90% of shine is expected are Jhalawar, Alwar, Bharatpur, Sawai Madhopur, Rajsamand, Banswara and Chittorgarh.
The Union government had earlier approved procurement of wheat which had lost up to 50% of shine, as a general rule. Ms. Sinha said the Centre gave its consent, following the State government’s intervention, for procurement of wheat having lost 90% of shine in Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh, Kota, Bundi and Baran districts.
Ms. Sinha said the State government had apprised the Centre of the extent of qualitative and quantitative damage caused to the crops and requested for giving relaxation in quality norms for procurement.