Shimla, Jun 7 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh government has procured a record 100657.00 quintal wheat in ongoing RMS (Rabi Marketing Season) 2021-22 which started on April 15, 2021, state Agriculture Minister said here on Monday.
The state government has set up a target of wheat procurement of 12,500 MT through Food Corporation of India from Himachal Pradesh, Mr Kanwar said.
Till May 31, 2021 a quantity of 100657 quintals of wheat has been procured as against 31295.00 quintal in the year-ago period which is 3.2 times more leading to rise of 221 per cent (69362 quintals) in comparison to last year.
The Minister said that wheat procurement centres have been set up in five districts– Paonta Sahib and Kala Amb in Sirmour district, Haroli and Takarala in Una, Fatehpur and Thakurdwara in Kangra, Patta Ghumarwin in Bilaspur and Nalagrah in Solan.
Mr Kanwar said that as on May 31, a total 29839.00 quintal wheat was procured in Sirmour, 30520.00– Una, 27270.50 in Kangra, 427.50 in Bilaspur and 12599.50 quintal wheat was procured in Solan.
State-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains in Himachal Pradesh in addition to it local traders also purchase the crop.
The Rabi Marketing season 2021-22 runs from April but the bulk of the procurement gets completed by June he said.
Procurement of wheat in ongoing RMS (Rabi Marketing Season) 2021-22 is continuing smoothly at procurement centres , as was done in previous seasons.
About 2447 farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing RMS procurement operations with MSP at the rate of 1975 per quintal .
He said that 785 farmers were benefitted from RMS procurements in Sirmour, 721 farmers were benefitted from RMS procurements in Una, 545 farmers were benefitted from RMS procurements in Kangra District , 16 farmers were benefitted from RMS procurements in Bilaspur district and 380 farmers were benefitted from RMS procurements in Solan.
The wheat procurement was started on 15april 2021 at Sirmour and Una, April 19 on May 3 in Kangra and Bilaspur districts and May 2 in Solan district in an ongoing RMS (Rabi Marketing Season) 2021-22.
HP Civil supply corporation is engaged in distribution of wheat in state. HP State Agricultural Marketing Board provide basic amenities for procurement but does not directly involve in the procurement process.
Estimates showed that at the current rate, the state government was expected to cross its own procurement target set for this year, the Minister added.
