Union minister concerened about hoarding of wheat

Ludhiana, May 8 (UNI) Expressing concern over farmers holding back their wheat stocks, particularly in Punjab, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distributiong Akhilesh Prasad Singh made it clear that there will be increase of wheat price from the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 850 per quintal, including Rs 100 per quintal bonus.

'' Farmers must bring their wheat stocks to the markets before May 31, the cut off date for receiving the Rs 100 per quintal bonus,'' he said while addressing a press conference here this evening after touring various 'mandis' of Punjab, including Khanna, the largest grain market in Asia.

''I want to make it clear that the Centre will not announce any increase in the wheat price or give an additional bonus on the MSP'', he said in the presence of Food Corporation of India (FCI) CMD Alok Sinha.

According to the minister, about 25 per cent to 30 per cent of the wheat produced this season was being held back in Punjab, on the hope that the government would offer some additional bonus later in the month. He admitted that due to the hoarding by farmers, the central governments procurement target of 150 lakh tonnes would not be achieved.

The minister however rejected the viewpoint that the fall in procurement figures of government agencies in Punjab was due to the entry of private players in the grain markets. The private buyers have not made the difference, it is basically because of the farmers who are not bringing the harvested wheat to the market, he added.

The minister urged the FCI and state government purchase agencies to play a proactive role and persuade the farmers to bring their stocks to the market.

UNI