Import duty unlikely to affect wheat procurement in Punjab, Haryana.

Private flour millers in Punjab and Haryana feel the 10% import duty will have little impact on wheat procurement for public distribution system while private buying of the cereal will remain limited due to lack of trading infrastructure and higher levy in the two-states. The procurement for public distribution system is expected to better than the last year in the two-states due to favourable weather this year. A target of 33 million tonne wheat has been set for the current procurement season, higher by 43 per cent over the last corresponding season. The procurement missed target due to scanty rains in the last year and stood at 22.96 million tonnes. The procurement figure stood at in Punjab and Haryana stood at 104.44 lakh tonnes and 67.78 lakh tonnes respectively in 15-16 Rabi season. This year Haryana is expecting around 75 lakh tonnes of wheat during the Rabi procurement season and procurement is expected to higher in Punjab as well.