Haryana: Space crunch could come in way of smooth wheat procurement
By Deepender Deswal
Wheat spilling on roads, wheat bags in the open grain market waiting to be lifted, and farmers and arhtiyas complaining about the sluggish pace of procurement and lifting of the purchased stocks. This has been a common sight in the grain markets of Haryana in the past.
However, if things are not handled properly, it could be worse this time around.
The government has been concerned over the shortage of storage space, especially for wheat. With mustard procurement set to start from March 15, and wheat purchase expected to resume from April 1, it will be a tough task for the authorities to manage the purchased stock in the absence of adequate covered space.
Acknowledging this challenge, government officials have initiated measures to ensure smooth procurement. A senior official of Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (HAFED) admitted that storage space was limited. “We have godowns under the Food Corporation of India (FCI), which has stacked rice. The storage of mustard is also necessary in godowns. The wheat stock is expected to be stored in the open, and will be covered with polythene,” he said.
The government has directed officials to arrange for open storage areas, where wheat stocks will be placed on plinths and covered with polythene sheets to safeguard them from weather conditions. “We have identified suitable sites close to grain markets and procurement centres to facilitate easy transportation,” the official said.
Procurement advanced by 13 days
According to FCI data, Haryana currently has 257 depots with a total storage capacity of 61.80 lakh metric tonnes (MT). Presently, these depots hold 55.96 lakh MT of stock, including 41.02 lakh MT of rice and 14.94 lakh MT of wheat. However, these figures account only for FCI stocks and do not include Central pool stocks stored by state agencies.
The procurement has set a target of procurement of 85 lakh MT of wheat and 10.79 lakh MT of mustard during the procurement season.
Given the storage constraints in godowns, officials are expanding open storage arrangements to accommodate the new stock while ensuring proper protection.
In an attempt to streamline operations and prevent last-minute congestion, the government has advanced wheat procurement by 13 days, starting from March 15, instead of April 1.
This year, 11 lakh farmers have registered for the procurement process. To manage the storage crisis, the Warehouse Housing Corporation has set up 50 centres, while HAFED has established 58. In key districts, such as Sirsa, 14 procurement centres have been allocated, while Fatehabad and Yamunanagar have received one each.
Wheat procurement will take place across 417 mandis and centres. About Rs 7,950 crore has been allocated to support the purchase process and ensure timely payments to farmers.
Timeline for speedy lifting
The officials have also introduced strict timelines for speedy lifting. Contractors must lift wheat stocks from centres within 48 hours, failing which they will face a penalty of Rs 1,000 per truck per day, according to the guidelines.
Mustard procurement will take place in 108 mandis, starting March 15, with officials ensuring adequate storage arrangements to prevent spoilage. There are four procurement agencies — HAFED, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Haryana State Warehousing Corporation, and FCI.
This article has been republished from The Tribune.