So far, 70.69 lakh MT wheat has been procured on support price in Madhya Pradesh from 9.63 lakh farmers. A sum of Rs 10,019 crore has been paid to farmers against procurement of wheat from them. To save farmers from wandering about for payment against their produce, arrangements have been made to deposit payments directly in their bank accounts within seven days.
The procurement of wheat from the farmers on support price started on March 25 and would continue till May 26. last year, Madhya Pradesh stood second after Punjab and Haryana, for procuring maximum wheat.
Arrangements have also been made to send SMS to farmers to bring their produce for selling on a specific day. The department has increased 128 procurement centres this year taking their total number centres to 2,980 in the State. Due to the increase in number of procurement centres, only 500 to 700 farmers came to the procurement centre. As a result, they did not have to wait long for selling their produce. This year, 70.69 lakh MT wheat has been procured till May 25 against 63.41 lakh last year.
The State Government has authorised State Civil Supplies Corporation and State Marketing Federation (MARKFED) for procuring wheat. This year, the Central Government has fixed Rs1,400 per quintal as support price. The State Government is giving Rs150 per quintal bonus. last date for wheat procurement has been extended to May 30 in seven districts including Bhind, Chhatarpur, Umaria, Rewa, Satna, Sidhi and Singrauli. In remaining districts, wheat was procured till May 26.