Bhopal: So far, 70 lakh 69 thousand MT wheat has been procured on support price in Madhya Pradesh from 9 lakh 63 thousand farmers. A sum of Rs. 10 thousand 19 crore has been paid to farmers against procurement of wheat from them. To save farmers from wandering about for payment against their produce, arrangements have been made to deposit payments directly in their bank accounts within 7 days.
Arrangements have also been made to send SMS to farmers to bring their produce for selling on a specific day. The department has increased 128 procurement centres this year taking their total number centres to 2,980 in the state. Due to increase in number of procurement centres, only 500 to 700 farmers came to every procurement centre. As a result they did not have to wait long for selling their produce. This year, 70 lakh 69 thousand MT wheat has been procured till May 25 against 63 lakh 41 thousand last year.
The state government has authorised State Civil Supplies Corporation and State Marketing Federation (MARKFED) for procuring wheat. This year, the Central Government has fixed Rs. 1400 per quintal as support price. State government is giving Rs. 150 per quintal bonus. Last date for wheat procurement has been extended to May 30 in 7 districts including Bhind, Chhatarpur, Umaria, Rewa, Satna, Sidhi and Singrauli. In remaining districts, wheat was procured till May 26.
