Wheat arrival begins, 6,969 metric tonnes procured

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 24

The arrival of wheat in grain markets has finally begun with a delay of almost two weeks, which was propelled by weather vagaries. Officials at the district’s biggest grain market, Bhagatawala mandi, said the arrival of produce started on Tuesday.

The district recorded a total arrival of 2,534 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat on Tuesday and 7,416 MT on Wednesday.

District Mandi Officer Jaswinder Singh said 6,969 tonnes of produce had been procured by different agencies. “The rest has moisture content or cleaning issues. It will be procured in due course of time,” said Jaswinder Singh.

Mandi officials said all 57 markets under their jurisdiction had become operational and arrangements had been made for quick procurement. The mandi board, Amritsar, has 55 mandis in the district and 2 in in Tarn Taran.

Due to a change in the weather pattern, especially due to prolonged winters, this time, the ripening and subsequent harvesting has been delayed by more than two weeks. Farmers have finally begun the task.

However, as the pace is slow at present, farmers are able to sell their crop readily. With the activity inclining towards peak in the coming days, the rush at markets will increase which will pose problems as shortage of space for unloading produce.

“We have made necessary arrangements. Our priority will to make farmers free on the same day. In extreme cases, they might face a little trouble but the entire machinery will be available to help them,” Jaswinder added.