Lok Sabha Question No. 5110 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Production and Procurement of Wheat
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RAHUL KASWAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5110

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## PRODUCTION AND PROCUREMENT OF WHEAT

## 5110.   SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the estimated wheat production for the year 2017-18 and the details of wheat stock with the Food Corporation of India;
- (b) whether  wheat  stock  with the Food  Corporation of India has decreased and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  procure  wheat  from  farmers through  any  active  agency,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  scheme formulated  for  this  and  the  time  by  which  procurement  process  will  be started; and
- (d) whether the Government has fixed any target for the procurement of wheat during the 2017-18, if so, the details thereof and the increase in the procurement of  wheat  in  the  current  year  as  compared  to  that  of  the  last year?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a): The  total production and stock of  wheat in the country during 201718 is as under:

## (Figure in Million tons)

| Year    | Production   | Wheat Stock   |
|---------|--------------|---------------|
| 2017-18 | 97.11*       | 15.15#        |

*2 nd   advance estimates

#Stock as on 1.03.2018

## (b): No madam, The stock position of wheat during the last 2 years is as furnished below:

| Wheat as on     |   Quantity (Million tons) |
|-----------------|---------------------------|
| 1 st March 2017 |                      9.43 |
| 1 st March 2018 |                     15.15 |

(c)&(d): The  Central  Government  extends  price  support  to  paddy  and wheat  through the FCI and State Agencies  across the country. The procurement policy is open ended. Under this policy, whatever foodgrains are offered  by  farmers, within  the  stipulated  period  &  conforming  to  the specifications prescribed by Government of India, are purchased at Minimum Support  Price  (MSP)  by  the  State  Government  agencies  including  Food Corporation of India (FCI) for Central Pool. However, if producer/farmer gets better price in comparison to MSP, they are free to sell their produce in open market i.e. to private trader/ anyone. The objective of foodgrains procurement by Government  agencies is to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices for their produce and do not have to resort to distress sale.  The  statement  showing  Estimate  and  Procurement  of  wheat  for  Rabi Marketing  Season  (RMS)  2017-18;  Procurement  Estimates  of  wheat  & Procurement Period during RMS 2018-19 is at annexure.

***

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (c)  &  (d)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5110 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 27.3.2018 IN THE LOK SABHA

State-wise procurement ESTIMATE of Wheat during RMS 2017-18 AND RMS 2018-19 (in LMT)

| State          | RMS 2017-18   | RMS 2017-18   | RMS 2018-19          | RMS 2018-19                                                                     |
|----------------|---------------|---------------|----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| State          | Estimate      | Procurement   | Procurement Estimate | Procurement Period (Date to date)                                               |
| Punjab         | 115.00        | 117.06        | 119.00               | 1 st April, 2018 to 31 st May, 2018                                             |
| Haryana        | 75.00         | 74.32         | 74.00                | 1 st April, 2018 to 15 th May, 2018                                             |
| Madhya Pradesh | 85.00         | 67.25         | 67.00                | 16 th March, 2018 to 31 st May, 2018                                            |
| Uttar Pradesh  | 30.00         | 36.99         | 40.00                | 1 st April, 2018 to 15 th June, 2018                                            |
| Rajasthan      | 17.50         | 12.45         | 16.00                | 1 st April , 2018 to 15 th June, 2018 (Only for Kota district from 15 th March) |
| Bihar          | 5.00          | -             | 2.00                 | 1 st April, 2018 to 30 th June,2018                                             |
| Uttarakhand    | 1.50          | 0.02          | 1.00                 | 1 st April, 2018 to 30 th June, 2018                                            |
| Gujarat        | 0.50          | 0.07          | 0.50                 | 15 th March, 2018 to 31 st May, 2018                                            |
| Other States   | 0.50          | -             | 0.50                 | 15 th March, 2018 to 31 st May, 2018                                            |
| Total          | 330.00        | 308.24        | 320.00               |                                                                                 |