Ensure farmers get payment for produce within 48 hours: Minister

Farmers would get payment for their wheat produce within 48 hours of the procurement and lifting of the procured stocks would be ensured within 72 hours. This was stated by Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal during a visit to various grain markets of the district here on Sunday.

To ensure that the farmers do not face any inconvenience, it is important that they get their payment in time and the lifting of crop would ensure ample space in mandis for fresh arrivals from fields, he said.

Dhaliwal also inspected the moisture content in wheat, reviewed procurement arrangements, and interacted with farmers, labourers, and arhtiyas. He said the payment should not be delayed beyond the deadline fixed by the government and if such a case comes to notice, action would be taken against officials concerned and agency.

The minister said the state government is committed to upgrading infrastructure at the grain markets. “These mandis are not only used for procurement of wheat and paddy but also for various social, religious and sports events,” he said.

Speaking to the farmers, Dhaliwal said, “The government is fully committed and prepared to purchasing each and every grain of the farmers’ crop from the mandis, ensuring no trouble for farmers, labourers or arhtiyas.” He said the preliminary reports have suggested that yield of wheat this season is better than many previous years and farmers need to be appreciated for their hard work.