Bathinda: Over 116.98 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, accounting for 95.9% of the targeted procurement, has arrived in the purchase centres of Punjab so far this season. On Friday, 2,85,476 metric tonnes of wheat arrived in the grain markets across the state, pushing the total arrival so far this season to 1,16,98,650 metric tonnes.
Procurement Progress
The government had set an estimated procurement target of 122 LMT. Out of the total arrival, 1,15,45,668 metric tonnes was procured by Friday evening, leaving behind an unsold stock of 1,52,982 metric tonnes in the mandis. The procurement on Friday alone was recorded at 3,37,364 metric tonnes.
Decline in Trader Purchases
Procurement by traders has faced a significant decline as they purchased only 1,16,612 metric tonnes, or 1.01% of the total purchases, this season. In the corresponding period last year, traders had purchased 7.92% of the total arrivals in markets.
The Food Corporation of India has purchased 2,23,691 metric tonnes of wheat, which constitutes 1.93% of the total purchases so far.
Lifting of Procured Wheat
Even as over 98% of grains arriving in mandis have been purchased, the lifting of procured wheat remains sluggish. So far, only 57,96,935 metric tonnes, or nearly 50% of the procured wheat, has been lifted from the grain markets. On Friday, 4,44,470 metric tonnes of procured grains were lifted.
District-wise Arrivals
Among districts, Bathinda reported the maximum arrival of 9,07,147 metric tonnes of wheat, followed by Sangrur with 8,94,596 metric tonnes and Patiala with 8,60,195 metric tonnes.
