Punjab exceeds central pool target in wheat procurement

Chandigarh, May 2 (UNI) Punjab's contribution to central pool of wheat stock today exceeded the target of 80 lakh tonnes fixed by the Union Government.

The granary of the country with less than 1.3 per cent geographical area has contributed 82.94 lakh tonnes to the central pool yesterday as against 55.06 lakh tonnes contributed on this date last year.

A spokesman of Punjab Government today said that with the pace of procurement being witnessed in the mandis of Punjab, the state hopes to contribute 90 lakh plus tonnes to the central pool this Rabi season.

The spokesman said that six government agencies and private millers had procured more than 86.59 lakh tonnes of wheat till yesterday, out of which 82.94 lakh tonnes, which was 95.80 per cent of the total procurement, had been procured for the central pool and 1.52 lakh tonnes (1.8%) had been procured for the state pool.

Out of total procurement in all the procurement centres of Punjab, government agencies procured about 84.46 lakh tonnes of wheat, which was 97.5 per cent of the total procurement, till date whereas millers have lifted 2.12 lakh tonnes of wheat.

Till May 1, PUNGRAIN had procured about 15.30 lakh tonnes (18.4%) whereas MARKFED procured 19.64 lakh tonnes (23.7%). PUNSUP procured 18.86 lakh tonnes (22.7%), PSWC procured 10.62 lakh tonnes (12.8%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 9.58 lakh tonnes (11.5 %) of wheat for the central pool. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 8.93 lakh tonnes (10.8%) for the central pool.

The spokesman said that in addition MARKFED procured 55,294 tonnes (36.2%), PUNSUP procured 68,249 tonnes (44.7%) and PAIC procured 27,925 tonnes(0.3%) for the state pool.

He added that Ferozepur district with over 10.09 lakh tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur District with over 9.09 lakh tonnes of procurement was at second slot and Ludhiana district with over 7.82 lakh tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.

The Punjab Government had made a payment of more than Rs 7,954 crores to the farmers of the state for wheat procured upto April 30, ensuring payment to the farmers within 48 hours of lifting of their wheat.

UNI PS JS1503