FCI official visits Ambala Cantt grain market; inquires about e-Kharid

Jacintha Lazarus, Executive Director of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), on Tuesday visited the Ambala Cantonment grain market and inquired about the e-Kharid portal, biometric authentication and the ongoing wheat procurement process.

Lazarus was accompanied by J Ganesan, Commissioner and Secretary, Food and Supplies Department, FCI General Manager Sharandeep Kaur Brar and Ambala Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ajay Singh Tomer. Lazarus sought details regarding the arrangements made at the grain market for farmers and commission agents. She also inquired about the wheat procurement process—specifically focusing on geo-fencing, wheat arrivals, issuance of gate passes, auctioning, lifting and other operations being executed through the portal.

HAFED District Manager Devender Singh, District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC) Nishant Rathi and other officials apprised the visiting delegation about procurement and lifting at the market. DFSC Rathi said wheat procurement operations at the Ambala Cantonment grain market were progressing smoothly and all procurement-related activities were being executed through the e-Kharid portal.

The DFSC said over 1.38 lakh quintals of wheat had arrived at the market, of which 1.26 lakh quintals had been procured and 74,000 quintals had been lifted. “The payments for the farmers’ produce are being disbursed directly into their bank accounts in a timely and systematic manner,” he added. The officials also reviewed the new reforms implemented to streamline the procurement process.