To ensure unhindered procurement process during the ongoing Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2021-22, the Punjab Government on Sunday approved the packaging of wheat in good quality used gunny bags provided by the arhtiyas (commission agents).
The decision was taken by the Chief Minister as he reviewed the status of procurement with senior officials, to ensure that there is no shortage of gunny bags in any mandi of the State.
It may be noted that the arrival of wheat in mandis has increased to eight lakh metric tonnes (LMT) per day and there is a nationwide shortage of new gunny bags and new PP bags for storage of the procured wheat, said a spokesperson of the State Government.
Regarding the issue of slow pace of purchase in the border districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur, it was explained that the grain of wheat in these areas is shrivelled and accordingly there is a relaxation in procurement specifications required from the Central Government before it can be purchased.
“Government of Punjab has, on April 16, already written to the Government of India to grant immediate relaxation in the uniform specifications of wheat in respect of shrivelled and broken grains up to 11 percent and luster loss up to 10 percent in the districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Fazilka without any value cut. However, the reply from the Government of India is still awaited,” the spokesperson said.
The Chief Minister Capt Amarinder has directed the Food and Supplies Minister and the Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, to immediately resolve the matter by pursuing it with their counterparts in Govt of India.
Notably, in the joint analysis of wheat samples in the Food Corporation of India (FCI) district Amritsar (Revenue District Amritsar and Tarn Taran) and State procurement agencies, luster loss up to five percent and shrivelled and broken grains up to 11 percent have been found in a few mandis of these districts which is more than the prescribed limit.
Likewise, in the case of Fazilka, the percentage of shrivelled and broken grains has been found up to 9.9 percent which is in excess of the prescribed limit of six percent.
Clearing misconceptions about reports appearing in a section of the media that FCI was refusing to purchase HD-2967 variety of wheat in the districts of Bathinda and Mansa, the Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture, stated that HD-2967 was an approved variety of wheat by both the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Ludhiana as well as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Hence, there should be no refusal to purchase by any procurement agency.
The CM directed the FCI officials to immediately dispel any doubts in the minds of people and purchase the said variety of wheat without further hitch. The Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan informed the Chief Minister that adequate measures have been put in place in the mandis to ensure strict compliance with the COVID safety protocols in view of the spread of the pandemic. Special vaccination camps have been set up in the mandis to facilitate vaccination of farmers, arhtiyas, and labour, she said.
The Principal Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, KAP Sinha said that 38.95 lakh MT wheat has arrived in the mandis till April 17 out of which 34.40 lakh MT stands procured at Rs 1,975 per quintal MSP.
He added that 85 percent of the wheat purchased has been lifted within the prescribed period of 72 hours. He also informed that payments to the farmers had started and would pick up pace from Monday onwards after the banks reopen.
The Chief Minister reemphasized that the welfare of farmers is uppermost in his mind and there should be hassle-free purchase of every grain of the farmer’s wheat that arrives in the mandis.
He directed the managing directors of the State Procurement Agencies to tour the entire state and resolve any grievance of any farmer that comes to their notice.