April 18, 2012

India's 2011-12 wheat purchases up 15.2%

As compared to the same period of the previous season of 280,000 tonnes, India s wheat procurement has risen 15.2% to 329,500 tonnes in the Rabi season 2011-12, according to the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Despite the lower and delayed procurement of wheat from Punjab and Haryana the purchase by the FCI was up on the back of record wheat production for 2011-12. India's wheat production is expected to be around 88.31 million tonnes for the fiscal year 2012.

According to FCI officials the wheat purchase from Punjab was lower at 28,000 tonnes so far against 200,000 tonnes last year and from Haryana procurement was 42% down to 698,000 tonnes against 121,800 tonnes in the last year. While wheat procurement from Madhya Pradesh was 240,700 tonnes against 140,900 tonnes in the same period last season. The procurement from Uttar Pradesh was 32,000 tonnes while Rajasthan has contributed 91,000 tonnes during the period.

The procurement from Gujarat touched a record of 33,155 tonnes this season against 10,543 tonnes last year.