NEW DELHI, Apr 21 : Procurement of wheat by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will begin in Delhi after a gap of five years, following intervention of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the CMO said in a statement on Tuesday.
Local procurement of wheat, which will strengthen public distribution system in the city, will begin at Narela and Najafgarh mandis from April 24, it said.
Gupta had intervened in the matter, urging the Centre for procurement of wheat through FCI that was stopped in 2021. The Centre has accepted the request, as per the statement.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), wheat procurement at MSP by the FCI is being resumed in Delhi after 2021-22.
The capital has around 29,000 hectares under cultivation and produces nearly 80,000 metric tonnes of wheat annually, exceeding local consumption and leaving a marketable surplus.
The initiative is expected to directly benefit around 21,000 farmers in Delhi. Farmers will be required to carry their Aadhaar card, land records, and bank passbook to sell their produce at procurement centres.
A village-wise procurement schedule will be announced shortly by the government, it stated.
The Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre for the move, saying it reflects a firm commitment to farmers’ welfare and income security.
This is an important step in prioritising farmers’ interests. With coordinated efforts between the Centre and the Delhi government, farmers in the capital will be able to secure fair value for their produce and become more economically empowered,” she said.
In a recent letter to Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi, she sought immediate resumption of wheat procurement in Delhi during the ongoing rabi marketing season.
In her communication, Gupta flagged that the absence of local procurement was forcing farmers to sell their produce below the minimum support price, adversely impacting their incomes.
Gupta stated that wheat procured locally can be seamlessly integrated into the Public Distribution System (PDS), strengthening the food security framework. At the same time, curbing unnecessary outward movement of grain will help maintain balance in local markets and improve supply chain efficiency. (PTI)
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