521.27 LMT rice estimated to be procured during upcoming Kharif Marketing Season: Govt

Food Secretary chaired a meeting of state food secretaries and Food Corporation of India (FCI) on Tuesday, to discuss the procurement arrangements for Kharif Crop ensuing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24.

A quantity of 521.27 LMT rice has been estimated for procurement during the forthcoming KMS 2023-24 (Kharif Crop) as against the previous year estimates of 518 LMT wherein 496 LMT was actually procured during last KMS 2022-23 (Kharif crop).

During KMS 2023-24 (Kharif Crop), the leading states in terms of estimated procurement of rice are Punjab (122 LMT), Chhattisgarh (61 LMT) and Telangana (50 LMT) followed by Odisha (44.28 LMT), Uttar Pradesh (44 LMT), Haryana (40 LMT), Madhya Pradesh (34 LMT), Bihar (30 LMT), Andhra Pradesh (25 LMT), West Bengal (24 LMT) and Tamil Nadu (15 LMT).

A quantity of 33.09 LMT of coarse grains or millets (Shri Anna) has been estimated for procurement by the states during the KMS 2023-24 as against actual procurement of 7.37 LMT during KMS 2022-23 (Kharif and Rabi). 

Six minor millets have also been introduced to be purchased by the states at MSP of Ragi starting this KMS 2023-24, upto three years. 

For increasing the procurement and consumption of millets, the Government of India has revised the distribution period of millets, incorporated inter-state transportation of millets, added provision of advanced subsidy, administrative charges at 2 per cent and also revised guidelines for facilitating procurement of six minor millets. States and Union Territories were advised to focus on procurement of millets, not only on account of International Year of Millet-2023 but also for diversification of crops and enhanced nutrition in dietary patterns.  

During the meeting, issues related to gunny bags requirement, route optimization for transportation of foodgrains from designated depots to Fair Price Shops, improving infrastructure in procurement centres, monitoring of wheat stock limit portal etc. were also discussed.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary/Secretary (Food) or representatives of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,  Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.