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All-time-high wheat yield in Punjab, Haryana expected
Tribune News Service

Bumper crop

Punjab, Haryana are eyeing a wheat output of 161.59 lakh tonnes and 124 lakh tonnes, respectively, for the current Rabi season
Punjab, Haryana have made arrangements to procure 140 lakh tonnes and 90 lakh tonnes respectively
“Inadequate” storage space will haunt both the states. About 80 lakh tonnes will have to be stored in an unscientific manner

Chandigarh, March 31
Punjab and Haryana are all set to achieve an all-time-high wheat production during the current procurement season that begins tomorrow. It is estimated that procurement will increase by 5 per cent over last year.

Sources in the Food Corporation of India said Punjab was prepared to procure around 140 lakh tonnes while Haryana was aiming at around 90 lakh tonnes. The FCI is the largest procurement agency in the country. Punjab had contributed the highest to the Central pool. Punjab’s contribution was 128.3 lakh tonnes during the last season. A record 87.16 lakh tonnes was procured last season from Haryana.

Haryana’s target can drop a little as farmers there are often tempted to take their wheat produce to mandis in nearby Rajasthan.

"We are expecting that Haryana farmers, whose villages share the border with Rajasthan, will sell about 8-9 lakh tonnes of wheat in that state as the Rajasthan Government is likely to announce Rs 150 per quintal bonus over and above the wheat MSP," the FCI official said.