78.74 lakh tonnes wheat procured in Punjab

Chandigarh, June 21 (UNI) Though there was a fall of 2.45 lakh tonnes in the wheat procurement in Punjab this year over the previous year, the government agencies had procured 2.34 lakh tonnes more wheat than the last year.

In his written reply to Lal Singh (Cong) during the Question Hour in the state Vidhan Sabha here today, Food and Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon said that the total procurement till June 15 this year was around 78.74 lakh tonnes. The government agencies had purchased 71.84 lakh tonnes, while private traders had accounted for the remaining purchase.

Referring to the previous year, the Minister said out of the total 81.19 lakh tonnes procured, 69.50 lakh tonnes was purchased by government agencies and the rest by private traders.

The procurement was highest in Ferozpur district, where 10.32 lakh tonnes had been purchased this year both by government agencies and private traders. In the last season, Sangrur district with 10.14 lakh tonnes were led in the procurement figures, followed by Amritsar and then Sangrur, the Minister added.

UNI