Wheat procurement at support price begins

Bhopal, Mar 22 (UNI) With the setting up of 1,081 support price purchase centres in 48 districts of Madhya Pradesh, purchase of wheat on support price all over the state began yesterday.

The MP State Civil Supplies Corporation (MPSCSC) will procure wheat from 45 districts, while the Food Corporation of India will do the purchasing in Tikamgarh, Satna and Sheopurkalan districts.

A target to purchase five lakh metric tonnes has been set up this year and one crore gunny bags have been arranged in this view, an official release here said.

Besides, primary agriculture credit cooperative societies had been appointed for wheat purchase and a credit limit of Rs 400 crore has been set up for ensuring spot payment to the farmers.

The Centre has fixed the support price of wheat at Rs 650 per quintal this year.

Meanwhile, the state government has requested the centre to accord sanction for purchase of shineless wheat from farmers in the wake of untimely rains and hailstorm, which damaged wheat and Rabi crops.

As wheat had been sown in 36.81 lakh hectare area, 68 lakh metric tonne wheat production was estimated.

Farmers had been advised to dry up wheat crop in sunlight in case it and moisture and clean it properly before bringing it to the support price centre.

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