Punjab nearing 100 lakh tonne wheat procurement mark

Chandigarh, May 8 (UNI) Punjab is nearing the 100 lakh quintal wheat procurement mark, with the six governmentl agencies and private millers having procured more than 98.63 lakh tonnes till yesterday evening.

This purchase is against 71.82 lakh tonnes procured till the same date last year.

According to an official spokesman, out of the total procurement made by the food agencies, 93.34 lakh tonnes has been procured for the central pool and 2,61,529 tonnes for the state pool. The traders have so far lifted 267860 tonnes of wheat.

Ferozepur district with 11,27,320 tonnes was leading in procurement operations, followed by Sangrur district with 9,36,565 tonnes and Ludhiana district with 8,30,096 tonnes.

The Punjab government allocated more than Rs 9385.77 crore to the agencies for making payment to the farmers for wheat procured upto May 6, ensuring payment to the farmers within 48 hours of lifting of their wheat.

UNI HS JS1744