For the first time, farmers of Punjab and Haryana are getting direct bank transfer of payment against sale of rabi crops. The Centre has transferred around `8,180 crore to farmers in Punjab and `4,668 crore farmers in Haryana directly into their bank accounts against sale of their wheat crop this year so far. About 21.17 lakh wheat farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing rabi marketing season procurement operations with an MSP value of about ` 43,912 crore, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs said.
After much persuasion, the Punjab Government has agreed to implement direct bank transfer (DBT) of payment of minimum support price (MSP) against sale of rabi (winter) crops such as wheat from April 10 onwards. In Haryana also, the MSP payment is being paid directly into the bank accounts of farmers. So far, Rs 4,668 crore has been transferred, it added. About 71.76 lakh tonne of wheat has been procured from Haryana.
Wheat procurement is going on at a brisk pace in the procuring States and UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and other States with the purchase of over 222.33 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) up to April 25, 2021 against 77.57 LMT during the corresponding period of last year, it said.
The ministry further informed that out of the total purchase of 222.33 LMT, a major contribution has been made by Punjab- 84.15 LMT (37.8 per cent), Haryana- 71.76 LMT (32.27 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh -51.57 LMT (23.2 per cent) of total procurement up to April 25, 2021.
Procurement of wheat is being undertaken by central nodal agency Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies.