Union Govt advances wheat procurement date to June 30

Chandigarh, May 29 (UNI) The Union Government has decided to extend the date of wheat procurement from May 31 to June 30, an official Punjab government release today claimed.

The farmers will now continue to get incentive bonus of Rs 100 per quintal over the wheat MSP of Rs 750 per quintal till June 30.

As per the earlier decision of the Centre the farmers would not have got the bonus if they had brought their wheat to the 'mandis' after May 31.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held between Union Agriculture, Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution Minister Sharad Pawar and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at New Delhi last night. Mr Badal met the Union minister at his (Pawar's) residence.

In the meeting, Mr Badal pointed to the Union Agriculture Minister that due to late maturity of the wheat and widespread adopted of manual harvesting the crops arrival in the mandis had been delayed this season.

Mr Badal described this decision as farmer-friendly as it would help to prevent the exploitation of the farmers by the traders.

The Chief Minister also urged the Union Minister to find ways and means to enhance the quota of wheat for the Above Poverty Line (APL) families.

Meanwhile, Mr Pawar assured the Chief Minister of support and cooperation and promised to resolve the other pending issues related to food and procurement.

Mr Badal was accompanied by his Principal Secretary D S Guru, Principal Secretary Food and Supplies Tejinder Kaur and Principal Resident Commissioner Anjuli Chib Duggal.

UNI