100 lakh Metric Tonn wheat to be procured on support price

Bhopal: All is set for procurement of100 lakh MT wheat in Madhya Pradesh in the Rabi season this year. Madhya Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation has been appointed as nodal agency to procure wheat on support price. Procurement of wheat on support price will be made from March 18 to May 26. So far, 17 lakh 43 thousand farmers have been registered for wheat procurement.

Wheat procurement will start in Ujjain, Bhopal, Indore and Narmadapuram divisions from March 18 which will last till May 19 and in Chambal, Gwalior, Rewa, Shahdol, Jabalpur and Sagar divisions it will be done from March 25 to May 27. Civil Supplies Corporation will procure wheat in 24 districts and MARKFED in 27 districts. Large scale preparations have been made in five districts Hoshangabad, Harda, Sehore, Raisen and Bhopal districts where wheat procurement is made on a massive scale. For assessing quantum of possible procurement in Madhya Pradesh, verification of 41 lakh 42 thousand hectare irrigated and 72 thousand 900 hectare unirrigated land has been made by patwaris so far.

Effective arrangements have also been made for safe storage of procured wheat. Civil Supplies Corporation has arranged 4 lakh 16 thousand bales of gunny bags. State Warehousing Corporation has arranged to store 93 lakh MT wheat in godowns and 10 lakh MT in silo bags.

Civil Supplies Corporation has also made arrangements to ensure prompt payment to farmers against wheat procurement. For this, the state government has obtained credit limit of Rs.18 thousand 690 crore from Reserve Bank of India. Payments to farmers will be made within 7 days after procurement. Last year, Rs. 9,527 crore was paid to farmers against wheat procurement of which Rs. 953 crore was bonus. Wheat was procured from farmers last year at support price of Rs. 1350 per quintal on which Rs. 150 per quintal bonus was given.

For convenience of farmers, the State Civil Supplies Corporation has computerised the procurement process. All information about farmers and their registration is stored in computers at concerning procurement centre. SMS alert facility has also been given to farmers. Through it, farmers will be informed as to when they have to reach procurement centres to sell wheat and when payment will be made to them. Last year, 63 lakh 51 thousand MT wheat was procured on support price in the state.