DC for lifting of wheat at fast pace

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 25

The slow pace of lifting of procured wheat from grain markets may soon result in a shortage of space for farmers to unload their grains. The grain markets in the district have so far received nearly two lakh metric tonnes of wheat.

Only around 15,000 metric tonnes have been lifted from the markets and shifted to warehouses. As most of the wheat fields in the district are yet to be harvested the farmers might face a problem soon if the pace of lifting is not enhanced.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, too, has asked the concerned officials to ensure lifting at a faster pace. OIfficials expect over six lakh metric tonnes of wheat to arrive in the markets in the current season.

The DC said the procurement and lifting process was being monitored minutely and it would ensure that no such problem is faced. Meetings of the representatives of procurement agencies, civil supplies officials, mandi board officials and district administration are being held regularly.

The administration has also appealed to the farmers to bring fully ripened crop to the markets as moisture content of more than permissible limits might delay in procurement by agencies. As per the norms, the permissible limit is fixed at 12 per cent.

Sangha said farmers were also required not to burn wheat straw in the upcoming season. Though most of the crop residue is used to make dry fodder for the animals, still the remaining is often burnt by farmers to clear the land.

District Mandi Officer Kulwant Singh said the procurement process was going on smoothly and all arrangements for the farmers had been made.