Wheat procurement in full swing in Ludhiana

The process of wheat procurement is going on in full swing in the district and government agencies are procuring and lifting produce from mandis in Ludhiana.

According to the data, 2,46,247.5 metric tonne of wheat has been procured in Ludhiana East, and 2,64,952.95 metric tonne in Ludhiana West till April 28. Of this, 86.24 per cent of wheat has been lifted in Ludhiana East, while 79.78 per cent has been lifted in Ludhiana West.

District Food and Supply Controller-West Shefali Chopra said that Ludhiana is at the forefront in the state in wheat lifting.

“More than 80 per cent of the wheat procured has been lifted in the district. Punjab had a bumper crop harvest this season and the department is making every effort to make procurement hassle-free and disburse payments within 24 hours of purchase,” she said.

While the increase in Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a positive step, but the hike has not fully covered the rising input costs incurred by farmers.

“Our demand to fix MSP as per the Swaminathan Committee remains unanswered. MSP should be linked to the price index to get the benefit of inflation,” said Harjit Singh, a farmer at the Ludhiana grain market.

Wheat procurement in Ludhiana

Ludhiana East

• Total procured by government agencies: 2,46,247.5 MT
• Progressive lifting: 1,62,006.2 MT
• Due for lifting: 25,842.6 MT
• Total unlifted: 84,241.3 MT
• Lifting Percentage: 86.24 per cent

Ludhiana West

• Total procured by government agencies: 2,64,952.95 MT
• Progressive lifting: 1,53,862.85 MT
• Due for lifting: 38,999.65 MT
• Total unlifted: 1,11,090.1 MT
• Lifting Percentage: 79.78 per cent