Amidst the rising cases of Covid-19, the wheat procurement process is set to begin in Punjab from Saturday (April 10), for which all the necessary arrangements have been made. The procurement process would continue till May 31.
Disclosing, State’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Thursday said that during the current season, the procurement agencies as well as the Food Corporation of India (FCI) would procure wheat on the fixed MSP (minimum support price) of Rs 1,975.
He also added that the state’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has expressed the possibility of the arrival of 130 lakh metric tonne (LMT) wheat in view of which the targets of wheat procurement have been fixed between various agencies — such as Pungrain 8.5 lakh MT and 121.5 lakh MT will purchased by Markfed, PUNSUP, Warehouse, and FCI under Central pool.
As per the Government directions, the Punjab Mandi Board has issued tokens Mandi-wise and Arhtiya wise and Bardana would be sent to the Mandi and provided to the arhtiyas.
“The token system has been introduced to enable the farmers to systematically bring their wheat to the mandis. Apart from this, the social distancing norms would be enforced in mandis, in accordance with which box signs of 30 feet X 30 feet have been marked at two metres distance. The wheat would be unloaded in this area only and further, the bidding time for wheat has been fixed between 10 am to 6 pm,” he said.
The Minister said that all the Deputy Commissioners have been directed to make adequate arrangements for wheat procurement in mandis, harvesting of wheat at time fixed, while PSPCL chairman has been directed to ensure availability of power 24 hours in 1,872 procurement centres and another rice mills cum Mandi Yards.