Food secretaries to review wheat procurement

New Delhi, Feb 16 (IBNS) Food Secretaries from wheat procuring states will meet in Delhi on Feburaru 21 to discuss the arrangements for procurement of wheat for Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2012-13.

The meeting convened by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution will be chaired by Union Food Secretary B.C. Gupta.

The meeting will review states-wise estimates of procurement for wheat.

Though the production figures of the wheat will be available only after release of second advance estimates, States-wise arrangement of the procurement on the basis of past performance will be reviewed.

Last time an all time record procurement of 283.34 lakh tonne wheat was made and in some States like Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, it was recorded very high.

Increased procurement will require action in advance for storage.

Hence the meeting will also discuss, in detail, adequate storage space arrangements, both covered and CAP.

The meeting will also discuss measures to make expedite early movement of wheat stock of previous years and movement of surplus stock of RMS 2012-13 well in advance.

To optimize the utilization of the covered storage capacity of FCI in major procuring states, and to take delivery of wheat by the FCI from the State agencies in time, a comprehensive plan will be discussed.

The issue of availability of credit to the state agencies in time, setting of control rooms to monitor procurement, deployment of adequate staff by the FCI and payment of farmers through account payee cheques or bank transfers will also be taken during the meeting.

Agenda of the meeting also include arrangements for adequate packaging material for wheat procurement and procurement of coarse grains during RMS 2012-13.