Chandigarh: The federal wheat procurement is likely to be delayed by up to two weeks as Covid-19 looms large over ensuing Rabi harvest in India. Labour shortage and lack of adequate transportation is set to hit the process though states including Punjab have kept procurement-related activities out of the ambit of the lockdown.
“The matter over delaying the procurement process is under consideration in the wake of the Coronavirus threat,” a senior official of Food Corporation of India told ET. The FCI purchases bulk of the cereal produce in the month of April in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The procurement process officially commences on April 1 in Northern states as farmers sell their cereal produce in designated mandis to the government agencies at minimum support price (MSP) in these states.
The crop has attained ripening stage in Bundelkhand region in UP and Madhya Pradesh.
