4.5 lakh MT wheat arrives in district mandis so far

Amritsar, May 6

Nearly 65% of the wheat crop arrived in grain markets of the district till Tuesday. Officials of the district administration stated that 4.50 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has reached grain markets.

District Food and Civil Supplies Officer Lakhwinder Singh said of the total procured stocks, around 60 per cent had already been shifted to warehouses. He claimed that payment for 72 per cent of the procured crop had also been disbursed. The official said Pungrain had procured a maximum of 1 lakh MT so far followed by 90,254 MT by Markfed and around 86,116 MT by Punsup.

The Punjab state warehousing corporation has purchased 69,332 MT of wheat and Central government agency Food Corporation of India (FCI) 58,120 MT. Private players have also purchased 3,145 MT wheat.

The district officials stated that around 90 per cent of the crop is expected to arrive within the next four days as the harvesting was at full swing. Lakhwinder Singh said proper precautions and safety measures as per the guidelines of the Health Department had been ensured at the grain markets.

He said arrangements of tarpaulins had been made at all the markets to cover the procured and unsold grains in case of showers. Procurement by the government was under way at 56 grain markets and nine temporary procurement centres in the district.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department has also initiated efforts to popularise mechanisation of paddy transplanting, besides encouraging farmers to go for the cultivation of maize instead of rice. — TNS