The bread basket of the country — Punjab and Haryana — are staring at less production of wheat this season. So far, much lower quantities of wheat have arrived in the grain markets across the two States.
Punjab has barely managed to procure 11 million tonnes of wheat while Haryana has seen just over 5.86 million tonnes arriving this season even as the procurement season is almost over. The two States were looking at a procurement of over 14 million tonnes and nine million tonnes respectively this year. They contribute over 70 percent of the total foodgrain (wheat and paddy) respectively to the national kitty. The states have procured less than 16 million tonnes of wheat against a combined target of 23 million tonnes.
Officials said that a few agriculturists are shifting from Wheat cultivation to other cash crops and this could be a reason for the shortfall. In addition, erratic weather conditions over the region earlier this year led to much less yields per hectare compared to last year.
In some cases, bigger farmers are holding back their wheat stocks to get better prices from exports, which the central government has partially allowed. Compared to 12.5 million tonnes procured in Punjab by May 1 last year, the state has been able to procure only 11 million tonnes till May 16. In 2012, Punjab had procured a record 12.9 million tonnes of wheat.
Agriculture department officials were expecting a bumper crop of over 16 million tonnes this year with the food and supplies department setting itself a procurement target of 14 million tonnes.
In Haryana, wheat arrivals had surpassed all records last year with over 8.33 million tonnes arriving by May 13. The previous record of wheat procurement of 6. 9 million tonnes was in 2011. This year, the arrivals are only 5.86 million tonnes till May 16.