Wheat procurement picks up pace in Fatehgarh Sahib

After a slow start marked by uncertainty over quality specifications, wheat procurement in Fatehgarh Sahib district has now gathered pace, with around 10,000 MT of the crop already purchased from various grain markets.

Deputy Commissioner Sona Thind said that following the recent relaxation in procurement norms, officials of all procurement agencies, including the FCI, had been directed to expedite procurement and lifting operations on a war footing. She added that strict instructions had also been issued to ensure immediate payment to farmers for their produce. Farmers will not face any inconvenience now, she said, while reviewing the procurement arrangements.

The district has 32 procurement centres, where arrivals have increased significantly over the past few days. Earlier, procurement had been affected as agency officials were reluctant to lift the produce, citing moisture content and quality issues. This had led to resentment among farmers and commission agents. However, with the Centre and state authorities relaxing quality norms, procurement agencies have resumed operations.