The Centre has set a target to purchase 31 million tonnes of wheat this year, appealing to States to maximise procurement. The Agriculture Ministry will soon release its production estimate for the winter-grown cereal. Additionally, the target for rice procurement is set at 7 million tonnes and 1.6 million tonnes for Shree Anna from Rabi season crops.
In a meeting chaired by Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra with State Food Secretaries in New Delhi, procurement arrangements were discussed and final estimates were made based on State feedback. While Punjab is expected to procure the highest quantity of wheat at 12.5 million tonnes, no specific state-wise targets were mentioned.
Chopra urged State officials to be proactive in ensuring maximum procurement of wheat and rabi-grown paddy during the upcoming marketing season. Emphasis was also placed on the procurement of millets for crop diversification and enhanced nutrition.
Various initiatives such as proposed reforms in TPDS Control Order, SMART PDS, E-KYC, Mapper SoP, Jan Poshan Kendras, and infrastructure improvements in Procurement Centers were discussed. The Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA) highlighted the pledge financing against e-NWRs initiative. Telangana shared successful practices in Foodgrain Management System.
States were encouraged to make the best use of godowns created by PACS under the grain storage plan. Despite the record wheat procurement of 43.34 million tonnes in 2021-22, the Centre has been falling short of procurement targets in the last three years.
The Gujarat government presented automation in the supply chain in PDS, and States were asked to optimize godown utilization. Overall, the meeting aimed to streamline procurement operations and ensure efficient management of agricultural produce.
