Record procurement of wheat in state, figure touches 81 lakh MT
Bhopal. Record procurement of wheat from farmers has been made in the state this year. Maximum number of registered farmers have sold their wheat as a result of immaculate policy and arrangements made by the State Government. Till the afternoon of the last day of procurement today, a total of 81 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has been purchased. The process will continue till evening. The State Government has instructed all the divisional commissioners and collectors that wheat should be purchased from all the registered eligible farmers, who reach procurement centres by 5 pm. In view of long queue of farmers at centres, instructions have been given to issue tokens to them.
Of the wheat procured so far, 68 lakh 10 thousand metric tonnes has been stored safely. Wheat worth Rs. 11 thousand 207 crore has been purchased from 9 lakh 63 thousand 124 farmers.
Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies (independent charge) Shri Paras Chandra Jain held discussions with a number of districts collectors from his home town Ujjain and enquired about wheat procurement exercise. He instructed that bagging should be immediately started on priority in the districts where wheat has been procured without gunny bags. All the formalities regarding storage should be completed before onset of monsoon.
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary Food Shri Antony Desa instructed all the district collectors and divisional commissioners to purchase wheat from all the farmers who reach procurement centres on the last day of procurement. These will include all the eligible farmers who are registered and their wheat is of FAQ quality and who have come to the procurement centres carrying their wheat.
The exercise of procuring wheat on support price had started in the state from March 15 this year. The State Government had declared May 20 as the last date of procurement earlier. But later extended it to May 31.
e-procurement process was adopted for the first time in the state. SMS messages were sent to registered farmers inviting them to procurement centres to sell their wheat on specific dates. It was made mandatory for all the farmers to carry their mobiles with them when reaching procurement centre, which was also a proof of their being registered
