Centre Sets New Targets for Kharif Rice and Coarse Grains Procurement

The Centre has set a procurement target of 485 lakh tonnes for kharif rice and 19 lakh tonnes for coarse grains for the 2024-25 marketing year, starting October. The previous year's procurement was 463 lakh tonnes of kharif rice. The meeting discussed state readiness, weather forecast, and various initiatives to enhance procurement operations.

The Centre has set an ambitious procurement target for kharif rice at 485 lakh tonnes for the 2024-25 marketing year, commencing in October. This is an increase from the 463 lakh tonnes procured in the current 2023-24 marketing year.

During a meeting chaired by the Union Food Secretary and attended by State Food Secretaries and the Food Corporation of India (FCI), various factors such as weather forecasts, production estimates, and state readiness for procurement were discussed.

The government has also aimed to procure 19 lakh tonnes of kharif coarse grains, including millets, in 2024-25, a significant rise from 6.6 lakh tonnes in 2022-23. The focus is on diversification of crops and enhancing dietary nutrition.

(With inputs from agencies.)