Concerned over the low wheat procurement in Uttar Pradesh as against Punjab and Haryana, which may affect the government’s plans of launching the National Food Security Bill, the Centre has decided to crack the whip.
Sources said while food minister K.V. Thomas will take stock of low wheat procurement by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in UP, he will also caution the state agencies during a two-day tour which started on April 19. FCI chairman Siraj Husain is also accompanying Mr Thomas.
Data available showed that in the Rabi marketing season 2010-11, the FCI in Punjab procured 16.54 lakh tons of wheat as against 85.55 lakh tons by the state agencies. In Haryana, the FCI procured 9.58 lakh tons of wheat.