Wheat procurement picks up in Punjab

Chandigarh, Apr 14 (UNI) Wheat arrivals in the grain markets of Punjab have finally picked up with government agencies and private millers having procured more than 1.8 lakh tonnes of wheat till yesterday evening.

According to an official spokesman, out of total procurement of 1,80,419 tonnes of wheat. the six government procurement agencies inclduing the FCI had procured 1,75,604 tonnes of wheat. The millers had lifted 4815 tonnes, which was a mere 2.7 per cent of the total purchase in the mandis.

Pungrain had procured 23,811 tonnes (13.4%), Markfed 42,563 tonnes (24.2%), Punsup 47,470 tonnes (27%) , Punjab State Warehousing Corporaton (PSWC) 21,374 tonnes while Punjab Agro Industries Corporation (PAIC) had purchased 33,018 tonnes of wheat.

The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 7568 tonnes which was just 4.3 per cent of the purchase by government agencies.

The mandis of Patiala and Ferozepur divisions were witnessing massive procurement due to early harvesting whereas Jalandhar division was lagging behind because of late ripening of the wheat crop.

Patiala district with 39,023 tonnes was leading in procurement operations with Sangrur district with 14,340 tonnes at the second spot. Fatehgarh Sahib district with 7093 tonnes of procurement was at the third position.

The State Government has set up 1544 procurement centres and activated its machinery to ensure smooth procurement of wheat.

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