No Uttar Pradesh wheat, purchase dips 37.5%

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Palwal, May 12

The sealing of border due to Covid has curbed the arrival of wheat from UP to the tune of 21 lakh quintal in Palwal. This has led to a 37.5 per cent dip in the overall procurement here this season.

Revealing that the share of UP wheat in the mandis here has been sizable in the past, market sources here said the trend had come to an end this year due to the strict checking of movement on the borders with UP and other states. This has led to a decline in the overall procurement level as the total purchase this year

is expected to be around 36 lakh quintal against 57 lakh quintal done last year, when there was no curbs.

Admitting that strict curbs have been put in place in view of the Covid threat, DC Naresh Narwal said this had also prevented the entry from neighbouring districts of UP like Aligarh, Gautambuddh Nagar and Mathura. Over 25 tractor-trailers loaded with wheat attempting to enter the district have been impounded since the beginning of the procurement process, he added.

About 40 per cent of the total 55,000 wheat growers have registered on the ‘Meri Fasal, Mera Beora’ portal of the state government this time. An official said computer operators were deputed at 130 spots mainly in government schools to assist the farmers in registrating on the portal at no additional cost.