Wheat purchase by private players sees upward trend across Punjab
Initial wheat purchase data shows an upward trend in the role of private players where the non-government agencies have recorded a purchase of about 6% of the total grains hitting the mandis across Punjab. Market watchers say the rabi marketing season of 2024-25 may touch a record figure of 10 lakh tonnes by the private buyers as the state authorities peg the arrival at 130 lakh tonnes.
As per the official estimation, Punjab is expected to see an arrival of more than one lakh tonnes in the next two weeks.
Wheat procurement commenced on April 1 and as per the Punjab Mandi Board data, in the first three weeks, a total of 24.80 lakh tonnes of wheat arrived in different mandis established in 22 districts.
Of it, 1.42 lakh tonnes were bought by the private players while 19.23 lakh tonnes were procured by the government agencies till April 21.
The minimum support price (MSP) fixed for the ongoing rabi marketing period is ₹2,275 per quintal.
Mandi Board data says that the farmers have been paid up to ₹2,350 to date and the stakeholders attribute higher rates to the engagement of private parties.
Last year, non-government players recorded a total share of 4.50 lakh tonnes or 3.5% of the total 127 lakh tonnes of wheat procured.
Officials said in 2007, the private sector players had registered 9.18 lakh tonnes of wheat.
Joint secretary of the Roller Flour Millers Association of Punjab Shubham Goyal said on Sunday that it is felt that the stock to be auctioned through the open market sale scheme (OMSS) will not be sufficient to meet the private traders’ demand making private buyers buy more wheat.
“But the real picture will emerge in the next few days after heavy wheat arrival is reported,” added Goyal.
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