Govt defines steps taken for wheat procurement and availability

New Delhi, May 4 (UNI) The Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that it has taken certain steps to enhance procurement of wheat in Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2007-08.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Dr Akhilesh Prasad Singh said the Minimum Support Price for wheat was fixed at Rs 750 per quintal for RMS 2007-08, an increase of Rs 100 per quintal, in order to encourage farmers to grow more wheat.

According to the Third Advance Estimates of the Department of Agriculture&Cooperation, the estimated production of wheat is likely to be 73.7 million ton in crop year 2006-07 compared to 69.3 million ton in crop year 2005-06.

An incentive bonus of Rs 100 per quintal over and above the MSP is also being given in RMS 2007-08 and a Committee of officers/ Experts was formed to recommend an appropriate strategy for wheat procurement in RMS 2007-08, and the recommendations of this Committee have been acted upon appropriately by the Government.

Mr Singh also informed that import of 55 lakh ton of wheat was done in 2006-07 which has improved the stock position of wheat in the central pool and the wheat stocks (as on 1.4.2007) were more than the buffer norms of 40 lakh ton at the start of RMS 2007-08.

Wheat exports on private account have been banned upto December 31, 2007. Wheat exports from Central Pool are also banned.

The Government had also decided to release 4 1akh tonnes of wheat under OMSS in February and March 2007 to cool market prices before the start of RMS 2007-08.

Further, the Government is keeping a close watch on domestic and international prices of wheat.

A notification titled "Wheat (Stock Declaration by Companies or Firms or Individuals) Order 2007 has been issued under the Essential Commodities Act 1955 on March 1, 2007. The order provides that any Company or Firm or individual which purchases wheat beyond 50,000 ton during 2007-08 shall furnish to the Central Government a return indicating the name/address of the company, quantity of wheat purchased and quantity of wheat held in stock, he added.

Department of Consumer Affairs has extended upto August 31, 2007 notification under the EC Act enabling State Governments to impose stock limit on wheat and pulses.

Import of wheat on private account at zero duty has been permitted upto December 31, 2007.

The Minister also informed that 13,128 centers for wheat procurement have been opened by Government agencies in RMS 2007-08 as compared to 8985 centers in RMS 2006-07 and senior officers of Department of Food and Public Distribution and FCI are frequently visiting wheat procuring States to personally assess the situation.

UNI