Amritsar DC takes stock of wheat procurement arrangements

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 14

The wheat procurement season for 2021-22 has started in the district and all departments, including the Mandi Board, the Food and Civil Supplies Department, various procurement agencies, farmers and labourers are keen on receiving the produce. This was stated by Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Khaira here on Wednesday.

The DC said till last evening 600 metric tonnes of wheat had been procured. Khaira along with other officials reviewed the arrangements made for wheat procurement.

He said during this season wheat would be procured by Food Corporation of India and all the procurement agencies at the MSP of Rs 1,975 fixed by the Government of India. He said according to the estimates of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, 7 lakh metric tonnes of wheat was expected to reach the mandis in the district. In view of which wheat procurement targets have been set for various agencies, including Pungrain, Markfed, PUNSUP, Warehouse and FCI

Khaira said keeping in view of the outbreak of Covid-19, arrangements had been made at 54 procurement centres to ensure the health and safety of the farmers. However, wheat grains had not yet reached all mandis of the district.

Jaspreet Singh, Additional Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, Punjab, had been given the responsibility of checking the overall procurement of Amritsar which would conduct a surprise inspection of the mandis every week. The DC said in view of the situation created due to Covid-19, the state government would procure wheat by following the guidelines of the Health Department. “For the prevention of coronavirus, a token system had been introduced in the mandis so that farmers could bring wheat in the mandis in a planned manner.

“Besides, the Punjab Mandi Board has taken steps to maintain strict social distancing norms in the grain markets of the state. Every person has been instructed to stay at a distance of at least 2 metres. Besides, sanitisers and soaps have been provided in the mandis for washing the hands,” said Khaira.

He asked farmers, commission agents, government and private employees, traders, labourers to wear masks.

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