Wheat support price is Rs 650 per quintal in MP

Bhopal, Mar 27 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh government has begun purchasing wheat at a support price of Rs 650 per quintal through primary agriculture credit cooperative societies.

The government instructed the societies to pay Rs 11 per quintal as relevant charges in addition to support price from yesterday.

Over the past five years, a maximum of 4.85 lakh tonnes were procured, which was 6.75 per cent of the state's total production, an official release said here.

A total of 68.08 tonnes production was estimated for the 'rabi' season 2006-07. It has also been anticipated to procure five lakh tonnes this year, which would be 7.34 per cent of the total estimated production.

During the current year, 1,081 centres were set up for purchase.

The State Civil Supplies Corporation would purchase 4.70 tonnes at its 945 centres while the Food Corporation of India would purchase 15,000 tonnes at 136 centres.

Madhya Pradesh witnessed unseasonal showers and hailstorms in almost all districts this year. And crops of about five lakh hectares of 41 districts are estimated to be affected. In the prima facie assessment, wheat was found severely affected in most of the areas.

In the wake of field staff expressing apprehensions that the condition of shineless wheat could worsen, a proposal for action has been forwarded to the Centre. Arrangements are in place for transportation and storage of wheat to be purchased at support price.

Besides, weighing arrangements have been made at each centre and district officers instructed for propagation of the support price scheme, the release added.

UNI AC CS ND1354